p 



i- 






COMPILATIO 



OF THE 




LAA\^ft^ OF louis^iatsta:. 



/. / 



<4 



NOW IN FORCE, 

|or tltf ^vpuisJttion and f upijort ot » <f jjisitm of 

PUBLIC EDUCATION. 






^ l^y THOMAS W. CONWAY, 



SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. 



AND RULES AND EEGULATIONS, 

. BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 



ey SEE, SUPPLEMENT TO COMPILATION, PAGE 73. 



A^^If ORIjEANS: 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OP THE DAILY REPUBLICAN, 67 ST. CHARLES STREET. 

1869. 



/^ 



COMPILATION 



OF THE 



NOW IN FORCE, 




PUBLIC EDUCATION, 



TOGETHER WITH A 

DIGEST OF THE POA\^EKS AND DUTIES 

OF THE 

STATE, DIVISION, DISTKIGT, SUB-DISTRICT AND OTHER OFFICERS 

CHARGED WITH THE EXECUTION OF THOSE LAWS, AND 

AN APPENDIX FOR GENERAL REFERENCE. 



V 
^"^ By THOMAS W. CONWAY, 



SUPEKIXTEKDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. 



'Tis education forms the common mind, 

Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined. — Pope. 

As this life is a prejiaration for eternity, so is education a preparation for this life, and that 
education alone is valuable that answers these great primary objects. — Biahop Short. 



JS'JEW ORZEANS: 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE D.ULY REPUBLICAN, 57 ST. CHARLES STREET. 

1869. 






By tr&i^sfbF 

L-, 3 8 3 1901 



<2J 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



A copy of this pamphlet is to be furnished to each member of the 
State Board of Education, each Division Superiatendent, each Dis- 
trict Board of School Directors, the President or clerk of each Pohce 
Jury, to parish Treasurers and State Tax Collectors, District Attor- 
neys, and all other officers and citizens needing information as to 
the school laws. 

Each officer thus supplied should carefully retain the same for 
reference, among the archives of his office. 

The Division Superintendents are especially charged with the 
distribution of these pamphlets, as herein contemplated, throughout 
then- respective divisions. Such officers and other persons as need 
copies and are not furnished with the same before the first day of 
October next, are requested to address their proper Division Super- 
intendent or this office, and they will be promptly supplied. 

COMPILER. 
Office Supeeintendent Pcblic Education, 
New Orleans, July 15, 1869, 



CONTENTS OF COMPILATION. 



Introduction 7 

Act to Eeotlate Public Education (121 of 18G9) — 

State Board of Education „ . . 9 

State Superintendent of Public Education 11 

School Districts and Boards of School Directors 13 

Dutie^i of District Officers — 

Presidents of District Boards 15 

Secretaries of District Boards 15 

Treasurers of District Boards 16 

Sub-Distiict Directors 17 

Qualifications and duties of Teachers 18 

Of the Division Superintendents 18 

School Divisions 21 

Duties of Auditor of Public Accounts 21 

District Ward Meetings 22 

General Provisions 23 

Addition 25 

From Act No. 321, of March 15, 1855 — 

Duty of Superintendent in regard to School Lands 27 

Free School Fund 27 

Duties of Parish Treasurers as to School Lands, etc 28 

Duties of District Directors and Parish Treasurers as to unsold 

School Lands 30 

Disposition of proceeds of Lands, etc 30 

From Act No. 182, of March 19, 1857— 

Free School Fund in State Treasury 31 

Act for compensation of Parish Treasurers, (33 of 1859) 31 

Act for collection of notes (217 of 1859) 32 

Act for rehef of purchasers ^83 of 1866) 32 

Act exempting property of Pubhc Schools from seizure (151 of 

1855) 32 

Laws Providing for the Free Education of Teachers — 

Normal Department in High School (153 of 1859) 33 

Act Supplementary to Act No. 153 of 1859 (155 of 18G0) .... 34 

State Seminary of Learning (131 of 1867) 35 

Fuee Education of Indigent Young Men — 

In Centenary College, Jackson, La. (116 and 271 of 1855) ... 37 

In University of Louisiana, New Orleans (320 of 1855) 3T 

Act for free transportation of Children (17 of 1868) 38 

Educational buildings exempt from taxation (114 of 18G9) .... 38 



CONTEKTS OP DIGEST. 



■ PAGE 

Powers and Duties or State Officees — 

Powers and duties of the Governor 41 

Powers and duties of the State Superintendent 41 

Powers and duties of the State Board of Education 43 

Powers and duties of the State Auditor 44 

Powers and duties of the State Treasurer 45 

Powers and duties of the State Tax Collector 45 

Powers and duties of the Secretary of State Superintendent . . 45 

Powers AND Duties of Division Officers — ■ 
Powers andduties of Division Superintendents 45 

Powers and Duties of District Officers — 

Powers and duties of District School Directors 48 

Powers and duties of Presidents of Boards of District Directors 50 
Powers and duties of Secretaries of Boards of District Dkectors 51 
Powers and duties of Treasurers of Boards of District Directors 52 

Powers and Duties of Sub-District Officers — 

Powers and duties of Sub-District Directors 53 

Powers and Duties of other Officers — 

Powers and duties of Parish Treasurers 54 

Powers and duties of District Attorneys .... 54 



CONTENTS^ OF APPENDIX. 



tAQE 

School Fund in State Treasury — 

Current School Fund =..... 51 

Free School Accumulating Fund. 57 

State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy 58 

Seminary Fund 62 

University of Louisiana 64 

Institutions of Learning generally. 64 

Miscellaneous appropriations for benefit of education 65 

Constitution of 1868, Title YII— Pubhc Education ......... 65 

United States Department of Education 67 

Circular Letter by Commissioner of Education 68 

Schedule of Information, etc 68 



INTROOUCTION. 



Special attention of all ofiicci's charged witli the execution of the 
provisions of these laws, and all other persons interested in the cause 
of public education, and all teachers and heads of families generally, 
is invited to a careful perusal of this compilation, which is the result 
of a thorough analytical examination of all the statutes of the Gen- 
eral Assembly for the establishment and promotion of a general 
system of Public Education, and of auxiliary acts providing for the 
systematic training of teachers. All existing provisions of these 
laws, that are now in operation in the State, have been carefully 
preserved in the text, and, to avoid confusion and misconception, 
care has been taken to exclude therefrom all sections, paragraphs 
and clauses of the statutes that have been modified or repealed by 
subsequent enactments. The dates and numbers of all acts and 
parts of acts have been inserted, to facilitate reference to the original 
statutes, and every effort has been exerted to make this pamphlet 
complete. 

In this compilation appears the "Act to Regulate Public Educa- 
tion in the State of Louisiana, and to raise Revenue for the support 
of the same" (121 of 18G9), and all antecedent acts and parts of 
acts not repealed thereby ; to ail of which ready reference can be 
had by consulting the accompanying Contents. 

The annexed Digest has received the greatest care in its prepara- 
tion, so as to present a complete and convenient conspectus of the 
powers and duties of the State, division, parish, district, sub- 
district, and other of&cers controlled by the provisions of existing 
school laws, and will, if given frecjuent and proper inspection, by 
each officer, of the special duties assigTied to him, prove a valuable 
auxihary in promoting a more efficient administration of the school 
system than has ever before been secured to the State ; and it is most 
earnestly enjoined upon all officers to make themselves perfectly 
familiar with this epitome of their duties ; that an unfamiliarity with 
them may not retard the work of education, and deprive the rising- 
generation of their natural and sacred rights. 

In the Appendix will be found title vii. of the Constitution of 



1868, relating to Public Education, on which the provisions of Act 
No. 121, of 1869, are founded ; also a brief abstract of such pro- 
visions of the laws as relate to the creation, preservation and present 
condition of the respective School Funds in the State Treasury ; a 
complete text of the law, as now in force, for the government of tlie 
State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, with reference 
to the act relative to the University of Louisiana ; and a memoranda 
of the amount appropriated by the State since 1866, for the promo- 
tion of education. 

The "Act (of the United States Congress) to establish a Depart- 
ment of Education," approved March 10, 1867, will also be found in 
the Appendix, with co-pj of circular letter issued by the Commissioner 
of Education, and a " Schedule of information sought respecting 
Systems, Institutions, and Agencies of Education." The attention of 
all heads 6f institutions of learning — public,' private, professional, 
special or class ; presidents of colleges and higher institutions of 
learning, superintendents of asylums for the blind, deaf-mutes, 
idiotic, juvenile offenders and orphans ; superintendents of Sabbath 
schools ; professors and teachers of all private schools, day and 
evening ; keepers of all public libraries, etc., is especially invited to 
the circular letter and the subject matter contained in the " Sched- 
ule of Information," required by the Commissioner, 

Division Sujperintendents will see that a copy of this pamphlet is 
placed in the hands of aU persons a^bove enumerated ; and Secreta- 
ries ©f District Boards will make it their especial care to furnish, in 
their periodical reports as required by law, complete and accurate 
statements of all such matters as come within their districts. If, in 
any instance, positive statistics and facts cannot be obtained, esti- 
mated reports will be given by th^ Secretaries, according to their 
best available means of information. 

The cordial aid and co-operation of School Ofiicers, Supervisors, 
and Teachers of Educational Institutions, and all other good citizens 
desirous of seeing the State of Louisiana ranked in intellectual ad- 
vantages, beside any of her sister commonwealths, are earnestly 
solicited to thus vindicate her honor and dignity. 

All necessary information for the promotion of this object not 
contained in this pamphlet, vnll be promptly furnished, on receipt 
of communications, by the Compiler. 

THOMAS W. CONWAY, 
Superintendent of Public Education, 

E. S. STODDAr.D, Secretary. 



AN AOT 

To regulate Public Education in the Stale of Louisiana and 
to raise lievenue for the supjwrt of the same, approved 
J][arch 10, 1869, and numbered 121. 

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

Section 1. The common schools of the State and such , . t^, , 

, I 1 T 1 1 J • Bo:'.rd of Edil- 

high and Normal schools as may be estabiisned and main- cution. 
tained by the State shall be under the manag(3ment of a 
State Board of Education, which shall consist of the 
Superintendent of Public Education and of one member 
to be appointed from each Congressional District in the 
State, and two from the State at large in the manner 
hereinafter provided. 

Sec 2. No person shall be eligible as a member of who eligible as 
the said board who shall not have attained the age of "■ i"°n»^"-. 
thirty years, and shall have been one year a citizen of the 
State. 

Sec 3. The members of said board shall hold their ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
office for the term of four years and until their succes- 
sors are appointed and qualified. 

After the first appointment under this act the board 
shall be divided as nearly as practicable into two equal 
classes, and the seats of the first class shall be vacated 
after the expiration of two years; and one-half of the 
board shall be appohited every two years thereafter. 

Sec 4. The first session of the Board of Education 
shall be held at the seat of government, on the first ^"'^^ ^°«^^°"- 
Monday ot March next ensuing, or as soon thereafter as 
practicable, after v\diich the board may fix the time and 
place of meetings. 

Sec 5. The Superintendent of Public Education shall g^perintcndont 
be ex officio President and the executive officer of the Presideut of 
board. ^ ^ ^°^'^■^^• 

Sec. 6. The board shall have power to make all need- ^ 
ful rules and regulations for the government of schools, -°^^''^' 
and for the examination and superintendence of teachers, 
in pursuance of the laws of the State, on such subjects 
made and provided, which rules and regulations shall be 
binding upon all officers of the public schools. 

Sec. 7. The members of the Board of Education, s^iariM. 
except the State Superintendent of Education, shall each 
receive a salary of one thousand ($1000) dollars per 
annum, payable quarterly upon the warrant of the board, 
approved by the President. 
2 



quorum for the tnlliSaetioii o! biisiiiGsSj but no rule or 
regulation for the government of common schools, or of 
high or Normal scnools shall pass without the concur- 
rence of a majority of all the members of the board, 
which shall be expressed by the yeas and nays. 
, They shall recommend a uniforrn series of text books 

'ox jooi:s. !-^^. ^^gg ^,j^ ^1^ ^YxQ common schools and the Normal schools 
of Ihe State. 

Size. 9. The State Board of Education shall have pov/er 
mont^iionr^' ^° direct and cause the district director, treasurer, or any 
teafiicrs^iot otlicr school officer within the State, to withhold from any 
ruies.^^"'" ^^'^'^'^ officer or teacher any part of the public school fund, until 
such officer or teacher shall have complied with all the 
provisions of this act, relating to his, her or their duties, 
and such rules and regulations as the board may pre- 
scribe, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, 
and the State Board may forbid the payment of any part 
of the public school fund to any district in which the 
school or schools have not been kept in accordance to 
law, or in which no schools have been kept for six months 
during the year next preceding the demand for payment, 
and the State Board may direct all public school money 
thus withheld forfeited; and the amount so forfeited shall 
be paid into the treasury of the State, to be appropriated 
for the benefit of the common school fund. 

Sec. 10. The State Board of Education shall, appoint 

foi^rit ''o? New ■^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ °"^ '^^^^ Orleans a Board of School Directors 
Orleans and in- of nine members, and for each other incorporated cit}^, 
Townrand ^°^^ 0^' ^i^hagc iu the State a Board of School Directors 

viuages. of uot Icss than three (3) nor more than five (5) mem- 

bers, who shall exercise all the powers and duties herein 
conferred upon district boards of directors, and shall hold 
their offices for two years, and until their successors shall 
be duly elected and qualified according to law; provided, 
that in the city of New Orleans the Board of School 
Directors shall appoint for each ward a board of district 
directors, who shall have the same powers and discharge 
the same duties hereinbefore conferred upon boards of 
district directors in the State, and shall hold their office 
for two years, and until their successors shall be duly 
elected and qualified as liereinafter provided. 

Sec. 11. Immediately uuon the passaQ-e of this act it 

Sbei"' of* "^ shall be the duty of the Governor to nominate and by 

state Board. niid with the advicc and consent of the Senate, appoint 

seven memJoers of the State Board of Education, one from 

each Congressional District in the St;i.tc, and two from the 

___^ State at large, who, with the Superintendent of Public 

Education, shall constitute the State Board of Education 

created by this act. 



11 

STATE SUPERIMTENDEKT OF PUBII: EDUCATIO^^ 

Sec. 12. An office shall be provided for the State Su- omcp ' •■ '^uper- 
peiintendent of Public Education, at the seat of govern- iutcudcut. x 
ment, in which he shall file all papers, reports and public 
documents transmitted to him by the Division Superin- 
tendents of the several divisions, each year separately, 
and hold the same in readiness to be exhibited to the 
Governor, or to a committee from either house of the 
General Assembly, or to the State Board of Education, 
at any time v/hen required, and shall require to be kept 
a fair record of all matters pertaining to his office. 

Sec. 13. The State Superintendent of Public Educa- D^^^y of supcr- 
tion shall be charged with the general supervision of all iuteudcut. 
the Division Superintendents, and all the common, high 
or Normal schools of the State; and he shall see that the 
school system is, as earlj^ as practicable, carried into effect, 
and put in uniform operation. 

Sec. 14. With a general viev.^ to these special duties, . ^^ 
he shall mc-ot the Division Superintendents of each Con- dAsiou super- 
gressional District (School Division) at least once in each iuteudcuta. 
year, at such time and place, as he may appoint, giving 
due notice of such meeting; and it is hereby made the 
duty of the said Division Superintendents to attend each 
meeting, the object of which shall be to accumulate valu- 
able facts relative to common schools, to compare views, 
discuss principles, and in general to listen to all com- 
munications and suggestions, and enter into all discus- 
sions relative to the compensation of teachers, their 
qualifications, branches taught, method of instruction, 
text books, division libraries, apparatus, and of all other 
matters embraced in the common school system. 

Sec 15. He shall visit such schools as ho may have it s.-imoisto bo 
in his power to do, Jind witness the manner in which they '^'isited. 
are conducted. 

Sec. 16. The Superintendent of Public Education shall Distribution oi 
cause as many copies of this act, and all other school school ducu- 
acts in force, v/ith tiie forms, rcgulatiors and instructions "''" ^' 
herein contemplated thereto annexed, to be, from time to 
time printed and distributed among the Division Superin- 
tendents as he shall deem expedient, directing the latter 
to distribute the same among the several school divisions 
of the State. He shall also prepare, and cause to be dis- 
tributed to the several division superintendeuts, a form of 
certificate iu blank, to bo granted to teacliers; also, all 
other blank forms necessary to be used in carrying out 
this act, and ail other acts. 

Sec. 17. He shall annually, on the first day of J fin- Anuuai reporter 
uary, report to the Auditor of State the number of per- school chiidreu, 
sous in each parish of the State between the age.s of sis 
nnd twenty-one years* 



12 



Eenort to Gen- 
eral Assembly. 



Statement of 
schools. and 
scholars. 



Plans for im- 
provement of 
school fund. 



Other matters. 



Printed report. 



Teachers' in- 
stitute. 



Superintendent 
of schools in 
jiarish of Or- 
leans and each 
other general 
school division 



Sec. 18. He shall make a report to the General As- 
sembly and the State Board of Education, at each session 
thereof, which shall embrace — 

Fird — A statement of the condition of the common 
school divisions therein, the number of schools in the 
State, the number of scholars between six and twenty- 
one years of age, and also the number in each parish who 
have attended school the pre-^ious year, as retiu'oed by the 
several division superintendents, the number of books 
in the division libraries, and the value ol all apparatus in 
the schools. 

Second — Such plans as he may have matured for the 
management and improvement of the common school fund, 
and for the better and more perfect organization and effi- 
ciency of common schools. 

Ihird — All such matters and tilings relating to his 
office, and to the common schools, as he shall deem expe- 
dient to communicate. 

Fourth — He shall cause his report to be printed, and 
shall present five hundred copies thereof to each body, 
on or before the second day of tlieir session, for distri- 
bution. 

Sec 19. Whenever reasonable assurance shall be given 
by the Division Superintendent of any division to the 
Superintendent of Public Education, that a number of 
not less than thirty teachers desire to assemble for the 
purpose of holding a teachers' institute in said division, 
to remain in session for a period of not less than six 
working days, he shall appoint such time and place for 
said meeting and such lectures as the said teachers shall 
suggest, and shall give due notice thereof; and for the 
purpose of defraying- the expenses of said institutes 
there is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the 
State treasuiy not otherwise appropriated, a sum not ex- 
ceeding fifty dollars annually, for one such institute in 
each division held as aforesaid, which the said Super- 
intendent of Pubhc Education shall immediately transmit 
to the Division Superintendent in whose division the 
institute sliall be held, who shall i)ay out the same as the 
institute shall direct, provided, that a like sum shall be 
contributed by the district. 

Sec 20. On the first Monday of March, eighteen hun- 
dred and sixty-nine (1869), or as soon thereafter as 
practicable, there shall be appointed by the State Board 
of Edjication, one person of literary and scientific attain- 
ments, and of skill and experience in the art of teaching, 
to be superintendent of schools in the parish of Orleans, 
including the city of New Orleans, and one of like quali- 
fications for each of the other general school divisions, to 
hold ofiice during the pleasure of the State Board of 
Education J or until their successors have been appointed; 



Secretary to 



and to perform such duliosas arc hereinafter provided or 
the State Board of Education may from time to time 
direct. 

Sec. 21. The State Superintendent of Piibhc Education 
shall appoint a Secretary, and shall prescribe the duties suyerruteiKicut. 
of the same, not inconsistent with tJiis act. He shall 
receive for his salary the sum of two thousand ($2000) 
dollars per annum, payable in monthly installments b}'' 
the Treasurer of the State, out of the public school funds, 
on the order of the State Board. lie shall take the usual 
oath of office. 

SCHOOL DISI'KICTS — UOAKDS OF SCHOOL DIKSCTOKS. 

Sec. 22. Each jury ward or district, that is now or may 
be hereinafter organized in the parishes of this State is School districts. 
hereby declared a school district for ail the purposes of 
this act. Each district may be divided into sub-districts 
in the manner hereinafter provided. 

There shall be appointed by the State Board of Educa- Board of district 
tion in each school district a board of dii'ectors, to be directors. 

known as the District Board of School Directors, of 

Ward, parish of , State of Louisiana. 

Said Board shall consist of tliree members, one to go Term of office, 
out annually, the first board to di'aw lots for terms, and 
who shall hold their office for the term of three years, and 
until their succession shall have been duly qualified. 

Sec. 23. In each sub-district there shall be taught one y,.,^,,,^^^^ j,^ ^..^^.^ 
or more schools for the instruction of youths bctv7een the sub-aiiiu'ict. " 
ages of six and twentj'-one years, for at least tv/enty-four 
weeks of five school days each in eacli year, unless the 
State Board of Education shall be satisfied that there is 
good and sufficient cause for failure so to do. 

Sec. 24. Scholars residing in one district may attend 
school in another, in tlie same or adjoining parish, with ^.^y a'ticno!""^ 
the concurrence of the directors of both districts, and, in 
such case, their proportion of the school money of the 
district to which they belong shall be paid to the treasurer 
of the district in which the}' attend school ; and sdiolars 
may attend school ia any sub-district of the ward in 
which they reside, with the consent of the District Board. 

Sec 25. The Board of District Directors, of each school p^j.^^.^ „{• ,ii,4,.^.t 
district which is now or may hereafter be organized in directors bodies 
the State, is hereby made a body corporate by the name ^°'-'^'^'-'^''-'- 

of the "Ward District of , in the parish of , 

and State of Lo.iisiaua,'' and in that name may hold 
property, become a parly to suits and contracts, and do 
other corporate acts. 

Sec 2(3. The District Board shall hold their regular jieetiuijs of 
meetings on the first Saturday after the first Monday in trict boards, 
April and October in. each year, and may hold such 



Make contracts. 



14 

special and adjourned meetings as occasion may require. 
They shall organize by electing from their own number a 
president and treasurer. 

Duties of dis- Sec. 21. The duties of the District Board of Directors 

trict boards. shall be as follows : 

Fc7'st — To make all contracts, purchases, payments and 
sales necessary to carry out any vote of the district; 
2:>rovided, that before erecting any school house they shall 
consult with the Superintendent of Public Education, as 
to the most approved plan for such building. 

Admit pnpiis. Secoud — To admit pupils not belonging to the district 
and not approved of in section tv/enty-four of this act, to 
their schools, on such terms as they may agree upon. 

Fix number of TMixl — To determine the number of schools V/-hich 

schools, etc. shall be established and the length of time each shall be 
taught, subject to the provisions of section twenty-three 
of this act. 

Fi:; sites. Fourth — To fix the Site for each school house, taking 

into consideration the wants and necessities of the people 
of each portion of the district. 

Establish graded Fifth — To establish graded or union schools wherever 

iGct^s^lDcrvi^sors" ^^^7 ^^^ ^® ncccssary ; and' they may, as occasion re- 
■ quires, select a person who shall have the general super- 
vision of the schools in their districts, subject to rules 
and regulations of the board. 

Ketermiue Sixlli — To determine what branches shall be taught in 

|?^^^^chcs to bo the schools of their district. 

Seventh — To require the secretary and treasurer each 

S^'uSicei^?^'^'^ to give bond to the district in such penalty, and with 
such sureties as they may determine upon, conditioned 
for the faithful performance of their duties under this 
act. Tile bond shall be filed with the president of the 
board, and in case of breach of condition thereof, he shall 
bring suit thereon in the name of the district. 

Eighth — They shall from time to time examine the 
accounts of the treasurer, and make settlement with him, 

port. and present at each regular meeting of the election a full 

statement of the receipts and expenditures of the district, 
and all matters delegated to them to perform, and all 
such other matters as may be deemed important. 

Audit claims. Ninth — To audit and allow all just claims against the 

district, and to fix the compensation of the Secretary and 
Treasurer. 

Visit -cbo-iis Tenth — To visit the schools in their district, and aid 

keep iists.'etl the toachcrs in establishing and enforcing rules fur the 
government of the schools, and see that they keep a 
correct list of the pupils, embracing the period of time 
during which they attend school, the branches taught, 
and such other matters as ma;/ be required by the Divisiots 
Superintendent, 



Ex::iiii!iie a 
couutd aui 



iii 

:6ti'udJ)//t— 'X'hc,y eliallj at thdv fl.rgt i'ep'uiiu' nieetitig aitor ^jyi^i districts 
ihe taking' ^Sect of tliia act;, divids tneir district into sub- into sub-'aia^ 
districts, such as justice, equity and the interests of the 
people require ; aud shall designate said sub-districts 
plainly iipon a plot of the district provided for that pur- 
pose, and record the same iu the district records ; and 
they ma}', at any regular meeting-, or at auj'- meeting- 
called for that purpose, change the boundories of sub- 
districts as circumstances may require, notice of the 
!?ame having been given at any previous meeting. They 
shall cause all such changes to be marked on said map or ^^^1^^;.^' "' 
plot, and recorded in the proper book, and in the oifice 
of the Parish Judge, and they shall cause new maps to 
be made from time to time. 

Each district board shall adopt a uniform series of 
books for all the schools in their district, and such series '^^^vt "^pj-fo"" 
shall not be changed offcener them once in two years. 

Sec. 28. A majorit}- of the board shall be a quorum to q,jo,,„,^-, 
transact busmess, but a less number may adjourn from 
time to time. 

D1IT1ES OF DISTRICT OFFICEES — PSESIDEKTS OF DISTRICT BOARDS. 

Sec. 29. The president shall preside in all meetings of 
the board, and of the district ; shall draw all drafts on J;°t;';^^;*„:;''" 
the State Treasurer, for money apportioned to his dis- 
trict, sign all orders on the district treasury, specifying 
in the order the fund on v\drich they are drawn, and the 
hse for v/hich the money is assigned ; and he shall sig'n 
all conlracts. 

Sec 30. The president shall appear in behalf of his 
district, iu all suits brought by or against the same, but pear^fOTdMHct 
when he is individually a party, this duty shall be per- i" s"its. 
termed by the secretary ; and in all cases where suits 
may be instituted by or against any of the school officers, 
to enforce any of the provisions herein contained, coun- 
sel inay be employed by tlic Board of Directors. 

SECRETARIES OF DISTRICT BOARDS. 

Sec 31. The secretary shall record all the proceedings gccr^tar-' siiaii 
of the board and district meetings, in separate books kept record procccd- 
ibr that purpose, shall preserve copies of all reports made ^"2^' ^**^' 
to the State and Division Superintendents, shall file all 
papers tra^ismitted to them pertaining to the business of 
the district, and shall countersign all drafts, warraiits 
and orders drav.-n by the president. 

Sec 32. He sliall keep an accurate account of all the .Yepo^nt of cs- 
e:r:penses incurred by the district, and shall present the peuscs. 
same to the Board of Directors, to be audited and paid 
as herein provided. 



Teachers. 



m 

UtOi 88. Jiesliali give ten days^ pi-eviousi hotic^ ef aii 
^owcc of hiect^ i'egtilar and special meetings of the district by posting a 
"'^"" ■written notice in five different conspicuous places therein, 

one of which sliall be at or near the place of meeting of 

the district board. 
File icpoit with ^^^- ^^- ^^ °^' before the twentieth day of September 
diviHioii super- in cacli year, the secretary of each school district shall 
mtciit.ent. ^j^ ^-^[^1^ i\,q Division Superintendent a report of the 

aliairs of tl^e districr, which shall contain the following 

items, viz : 
„,.,-, . -. First — The number of persons, male and female each, 

Cmlclrcn in air,- . ^ . . . . , •*- ' „ . ^ , ' 

tricts. m his district, between the ages of six and twenty-one 

years. 
Schools, etc. Second — 'The number of schools and the branches 

taught. 
Pupils in at- IMrcl — The number of pupils and the a.verage attend- 

teudanee. aiico of the Same in the school. 

Fourth— The number of teachers employed, and the 

average compensation paid x^er week, distinguishing males 

from females. - - 

Length of school Fifth — The length of school in days, and average cost 
^^™®- of tuition per week for each scholar. 

Sixth — -The aggregate amount paid teachers during the 
teachers! y6^i% ^i^d the balance of teachers' fund in the treasury. 

Seventh- — The text books used, and the number of 
used, etc. ^ volumcs in the district library, and the value of apparatus 

belonging to the district. 
Nnmher and Eighth — The number of school houses and their esti- 

hou4s°' "'''''°°^ mated value. 

Ninth— T\iQ amount raised within tlie year by tax for 
rSsM™' °' ^^'' the erection of school houses, the amount for teachers' 

fund and for other purposes of this act, stating separately 

the amount for each. 
, . . , Tenth — The amount of public fund received from the 

Amount of pub- ■ ■, , t-pj- -i l l- 

lie fund re- parish treasury, and, it any, from other sources, stating 
ceived, etc. what, and how much from each, and such other informa- 
tion as he may deem useful. 

Sec. 85. Should the Secretary fail to file his report as 

Pe^jiWy for fell- above directed, he shall forfeit the sum of tw^enty-five 

dollars, and shall make good all losses resulting from 

such failure ; and suit shall be brought, in both cases, 

by the district, on his official bond. 

TREz^.SUEERS OF DISTRICT BOAEDS. 

Treas r ■_ '^^^' ^*"^" '^'^^ treasurer shall hold all moneys belonging 

duties of. to the district, and paj^ out the same on the order of the 

president countersigned by the secretary, and shall keep 

a correct account of all expenses and receipts in a book 

provided for the purpose. 



l:>Eo. 37. The money collocted by district tax lor schodl ..schnonhoi.=ic 
house purposes, and all contingent espenses, shall be fmid." 
called the " School House Funcl," and that received for 
the support of teachers shall bo called the " Teachers' 
Fund," and the treasurer shall keep with such fund a "Xeaobors- 
separate account, and shall pay no order which does not i"'"i"' 
specify the fund on which it is drawn and the specilic 
us(; to which, it is applied. If lie have not sufficient 
funds in his hands to pay in full the warrants drawn fm 
the funds specified, be shall make partial pa\'ment thereon, 
paying as near as may be an equal proportion of each 
Avarrant. 

Sec. 38. He shall receive all money apportioned to the jorecpivo 
district by the Auditor of Public Accounts, and also all moneys, 
money in the parish treasury collected on the district tax, 
for his district. 

Sec. 39. He shall reader a statement of the finances of to rpiidoi- :u-. 
the district, from lime to time, as may be required by counts, 
law, and his book shall always be open for inspection. 

Sl'B-DISTRICT DIkECTORS. 

Sec. 40. It shall be the duty of the director in each sub- 
district, between the first day of August and the fifteenth ^JJj?aisiricts to 
day of September of each year, to make and keep on tceji record o 
i-ecord a list of the names of all heads of families in the cUUdren.^"^ 
sub-district, and the number of children in each family 
between the ages of six and twenty-one years, distinguish- 
ing males from females, and to report the same to the 
secretary of the ward district on or before the said fif- 
teenth da_y of September in each yeav. He shall further 
report the luimber of schools in his sub-district, and the 
branches taught, the number of pupils and average 
attendance of the same in each school, the number of 
teachers and the compensation of each, the text-books 
used, the number of school houses and the estimated 
value of each. 

Sec 41. He shall, under such rules and restrictions as xo make con- 
the District Board of School Directors may prescribe, tracts, etc 
negotiate and make in his sub-district all necessary con- 
tracts for providing fuel for schools, employing teachers, 
repairing, building and furnishing' school houses, and 
making all o'her provisions necessary for the convenience 
and prosperity of the schools within his sub-districts. 
All contracts made in conformity with the provisions of 
this section shall bo reported to the District Board of 
School Directors ; and said board in their corporate 
capacity shtdl be responsible for the performance thereof 
on the part of the district. 

Sec. 42. He shall have power to dismiss any pupils To dismiss pn- 

n ,1 1 1 • 1 • T 1 • , r. • 1 •, Pil=5 and %'isit 

ir^ni tne schools ni his district lor gross immorality, or schools. 



-W 



ibr persisient Violation of tlio regulations of the school, 
and to readmit theiii if he deems it proper so to do ; and 
shall visit the schools in his sub-district at least twice 
during each term of said school. 

Sec. 43. All contracts with teachers shall bo in writing, 
te°a^heiSo^be\ii f^pecifying tlie length of lime the school is to be tanght, 
writing, etc. ill wccks, the Compensation per y/eelk, or per month of 
four weeks, and such other matters as may be agreed 
upon, and shall be signed by the snb-director and teacher, 
and be approved b_y and filed with the pvosident before 
any teacher shall be entitled to a Vvavrant for services. 

Sec 44. He shall collect all debts due his sub-district 
and shall apply all funds that may thus come into his 
hands to the specific p>urpose for which they were 
designed ; but before entering upon said duties he shall 
file with the President of the Board of School Directors a 
bond, such as is required of the secretary and treasurer 
under this act. 



Direrfor to cnl 
lect debts and 
give bond. 



QUALIFICATIONS AHD DUTIES OF TEACHERS. 



Certificates 



Sec 45. No person shall be employed to teach a 
common school which is to receive its distributive share 
of the school fund, unless he shall have a certificate of 
cjuahficatioD signed by the division superintendent of the 
division in which the school is situated ; and no certifi- 
cate shall be valid more than one year from the date 
thereof ; and any teacher who commences teaching with- 
out such certificate shall forfeit all claim to compensation 
for the time during which he teaches without such 
certificate. 

Second — The teacher shall keep a correct register of the 
school, which shall exhibit the sub-district, v^ard, paiish 
and State in which the school is kept, the day of the 
week, the month and year ; the name and age, and 
attendance of each scholar, and the branches taught ; the 
register to be after the form supplied by the Board of 
Education 

SenlcMr"' Thnd—When scholars reside in diiTerent districts, a 

tiren. register shall be kept for each district. 

Fourth — The teacher shall, immediately after the close 

Copy of register ^f j^ig school, file in the office of the secretary of the 
board and transmit to the State Board of Education a 
certified copy of the register aforesaid. 



Eecords. 



OF THE DIVISION SUPEEINTENDENT3. 



Appointmont. 



Sec 4G. There shall be sis Division Superintendents, 
one for each Congressional district, appointed by the 
State Board of Education, for the term of two years, 
who shall hold their offices luitil their successors in office 
shall have been duly appointed and qualified. 



19 

Sec. 47. Within twenty days after his appoiutment, q^^^ ^^ officers. 
each Division Superintendent shall talse and subscribe 
his oatli of office. On his failure to do so, or if for an}- 
other cause there be a vacancy in said office, tlie State 
Boanl of Eduoation shall appoint, upon the nomination 
of the State Superintendent, a person to fill such vacan- 
cy, who shall quahfy in like manner, and who shall hold 
his office till his successor shall have been appointed and 
qualified. 

Sec. 48. The Division Superintendent shall examine all 
persons who shall present themselves at the proper time E.xamiuatious of 
and place, as to their competency and ab lity to teach 
orthofrraphy, reading, Avriting, arithmetic, geography and 
English grammar, and such other branches as may be . 
required hereafter. In making this examination he ma3', 
at his option, call to his aid one or more assistants. 

Sec. 49. If the examination is satisfactory', and if the Teachers' cer- 
applicant is shown to be of good moral character, he s!ia)l tiSua'tcs. 
receive a certifi.cate accordingly. The names of all those 
receiving such certificates, and of all those rejected, shall 
be entered on a register kept by the Division Superin- 
tendent, at the date at which they were given. 

Sec 50. The Division Superintendent shall, once in ,^ ^. 

IMGCtintTP tor 

each three months, at such place as he may designate in examiuatious. 
his decision, not to bo a less number than one for each 
two parishes, meet nil those who are desirous of passing 
an examination, and for the transaction of all other 
business within his jurisdiction, in some suitable room at 
the seat of justice of tho parish, or at any other phice, as 
occasion may require, and shall notify the parish judge 
of the phice of raoeting. 

Sec. 51. If, for any cause, the Division Superintendent Deputies 
cannot be present at the regular day thus fixed, he shall 
appoint one or more qualified deputies to make the 
examination in his stead. He shall afterwards issue 
certificates to those who receive the recommendation of 
his deputies as aforesaid. 

Sec. 52. The Division Superintendents may revoke the Revocutiim of 
certificate of any teacher in the parish, for any reasons ccrtiiicates. 
which would have justified the withholding thereof when 
the same was given. And the Board of School Directors, 
upon sufficient cause shown, may dismiss any teacher 
from any school in the district. 

Sec. 53. On or beibre the fifth da^^ of October in each 
year, he sl.-ali make a report to the State Board of Edu- ■^'"i^°'''- 
cation, containing a digest of the reports to him by the ♦ 

secretaries of the district boards, and such other matters 
as he shall be directed to report by the said secretary, 
and such as he himself may think pertinent and material, 
and especially such as will show the condition of the 
schools imder his charge. He shall also suggest such 



20 



Youths between 
six and twenty- 
one. 



I'Mialty for 
Iciilure. 



Duties. 



improvements in the system as he may tliink judicious. 
He shall also, by the fifth day of October in each year, 
file with the recorder of the parish an abstract ot" the 
nmnber of youths bei;\Yeen the ag-es of sis and twenty- 
one years, residing ia each ward and school district 
within his parish. 

Sec. 54. Should he i'ail to iiiakc cither of the reports 
required in the last section, he snail forfeit to the school 
fund of his district xlae sum of fifty dollars, and shcdl, 
besides, be liable for ail damages caused by such neglect. 

Sec. 55. He shall, at all times, conform to the instruc- 
tions of the State Board of Education as to matters 
within their jurisdiction. He shall serve as the organ of 
connnunication between the State Board of Education 
and the Superintendent of Public Education and District 
Board of School Directors. He shall transmit to the 
District Board of School Directors or teachers all 
blanks, chculars and other communications which are to 
them directed, and shall entertain and decide ail appeals 
taken from the decisions of District Boards of School 
Directors. 

He shall organize and conduct once in each year, for 

Teachers' insti^ j^^is owu division, at sucli time as after conference with the 

-, Superintendent of Public Education may be designated, 

(i a teachers' institute, at some central locality in the 

jl division, to which access is convenient, and where the 

• teachers will receive the encouragement of hospitality. 

In this work the Superintendent v/ill be aided by a 
professor from the Normal School, or by some practical 
teacher appointed by the State Superintendent. 

He shall also encourage and assist at teachers' associa- 
tions, to be convened four times each year, if practicable, 
on the last Saturday of some month in each quarter, in 
each parish or in several parishes united, urging the 
attendance of the teachers of the same, for the purpose 
of mutual conlerence and instruction in their dulies. 

He shall also report the number of private schools, 
schools, academies and colleges in the division; number of pupils, 
male and female; and all other information, in such form 
as the State Superintendent may prescribe, so as to pre- 
sent a full view of their educational facilities. 

The annual salary of the Division Superintendent shall 
be ($2000) two thousand dolhirs per annum. He shall 
jjerforni such duties and make such reports, in addition 
to those required in this act, as the State Board of Educa- 
tion may determine; and he shall be paid by the Treasurer 
of the State, upon warrants drawn by order of the State 
Board of Education, in accordance with the provisions of 
this act. 



Teachers 
ciation. 



Private 
etc. 



Salary. 



21 

SCHOOL DIVISIONS. 

Se(!. 5G. The State shall be divided into six general 
school divisions, o,s follows: 

The First Division shall embrace the parish of Orleans, First. 
including the cit}' of New Orleans. 

The Second Division shall enilirace the parishes of St. Si-.-omi. 
Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John 
Baptist, St. James, Ascen.sion, Assiimption, Lafourche and 
Terreljonne. 

The Third Division shall embrace the parishes of Iber- .,, . 
ville, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Pointe ' 
Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helen;^, Wash- 
ington, St. Tana many and Livingston. 

The Fourth Division shall embrace the parishes of St. fourth. 
Mary, St. Martin, Lafayette, Vermilh'on, St. Landry, Cal- 
casieu, Iberia, Avoyelles, Rapides and Catahoula. 

The Fifth Division shall embrace the parishes of Natchi- -,.,^,^ 
toches, Sabine, De Soto, Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bien- 
ville, JacL'Son and Winn. 

The Sixth Division shall embrace the perishes of Con- , 
cordia, Tensas, Madison, Carroll, Morehouse, Franklin, ^'"'^''^' 
Union, Ouachita, Caldwell and Ricliland. 

DUTIES OF THE AUDITOR OF PI^BLIC ACC.n:NTS. 

Sec. 57. For school purposes, there shall annually be xax levied ii-id 
levied by the Auditor of l^iblic Accounts, and collected wiiccted. 
by the Collector of State taxes in the same manner as 
other State taxes are levied and collected, two mills on 
the dollar upon all the taxable propert^^ in each parish. 

Sec. 58. It shall be the duty of the Auditor of Public 
Accounts to make a report to the police jury of each 
parish of the gross amount of the ta,x thus levied upon 
their parish, and it shall be the duty of the collector of 
State taxes for each parish to make monthly returns to 
the Board of f*ublic Education of the amounts of said 
tax collected by him, and of the persons and property 
from Vvdiich it shall have been collected, and to pay over 
the same to the State Treasurer; aiid the Auditor of i*ub- -r^.N true ui;- 
lic Accounts shall, quarterly, on the lirst Monday in J\Iarch, iK'itionea. 
June, September and December, apportion the same among 
the several school districts of the State, according to the 
number of children in said districts between the ages of 
six and twenty-one years, and said amounts so ap2:)or- 
tioned shall be paid by the State Treasurer to the ti-eas- 
urer of each district board, upon the warrant of the 
president thereof, countersigned by the secretary. Said 
district board of school directors shall apportion said 
sums to the several sub-districts, in tlie san^.e manner as 
above provided, and shall from said apportionment pay 



22 

all claims against such sub-districts upon the warrant of 
the director thereof, approved by the president of the 
board of district school directors, and countersigned by 
the secretary. 

DISTRICT WARD MEETINGS. 



Annual lucc 
iuKS. 



Levying of 
sotool tax, etc, 
at ward meet- 
ings. 



Sec. 59. Each v/ard district shall hold regular meetings 
annually, on the second 'Monday in March, at which all 
the qualified electors of the district may attend ; said 
meetings shall be presided over by the president of the 
district board of school directors, and the secretary of 
said board shall be the secretary of the meeting. 

Sec. 60. The electors of a district, when legally assem- 
bled at a district school meeting, shall have power to levy 
such tax, not exceeding three mills on the dollar in any 
one year, on the taxable property of the district, as the 
meeting shall deem sufficient to purchase or lease a 
suitable site for a school house or school houses, and to 
build, rent, or purchase a school house or school houses, 
and to keep in repair and furnish the same Vinth the 
necessary fuel and appendages, and for compensation of 
teachers, and for procuring district libraries and appa- 
ratus for the schools, books and stationery for the board 
and district meetings, and defray all other contingent 
expenses of the district ; provided, that no tax shall be 
levied for building school houses, excepting at the regular 
meeting in March ; and provided further, that no more 
than five (5) miils on the dollar shall be levied ia any 
one year for scliool house purposes. 

Sec 61. Whenever any tax has been voted, at the 
regular meeting of the electors of a district, it shall be 
considered as by said vote levied upon the assessed value 
of all real and personal property in the district. The 
secretary of the meeting shall, within ten days thereafter, 
certify the same to the board of district school directors, 
who shall certify the number of mills of the tax thus levied 
to the collector of State taxes for the i^arish. 

It shall thereupon be the duty of said collector to enter 
Assessment roll, the Same upon a separate assessment roll, which roil he 
shall, within ten days after he has been certified of the 
levy of the tax, submit to the district board of school 
directors, who shall examine and if correct, approve 
the same. The tax thus levied shall be collected in the 
same manner, and by the same of&cer, as State taxes, and 
shall be paid over quarterl}', at such time as the district 
board of school directors may direct to thQ treasurer of 
the district, 



Col lector to 
collect. 



2S 

Sec. G2. a school month shall consist of four weeks sdiooi moutu. 
of five school days each. 

Sec. G3. Any officer vdiosc term of office is prescribed officer to iioia 
by tins act shall continne in office until his successor is ""*'^ siiccessor 
aj)pointea and qualilicd. 

Skc. GL Every person appointed to any ofSco pur- 0^^^^^ ^^ ^f^^^ 
suanfc to t!ie provisions of this act, shall before enteriuf^ and ciiRibiiity. 
upon the discharge of the duties thereof, take an oath to 
KUi:)port llic Constitution of the United States and of this 
State, and also the oatli of eligibility, and faithfully to 
discliarge the duties of liis office according to the best of 
his abilities. In case such officer has a written appoint- 
ment or commission, his oath shall be indorsed thereon. 
In other cases it may be taken orally. In either case it 
may be sworn to before any officer authorized to admin- 
ister oaths. 

Sec 65. When any officer is superseded by appoint- 
ment, he shall immediately deliver to his successor in boo]Js?etc°f to 
office all books, papers and moneys belonging to his office, successors, 
taking a receipt therefor; every such officer who shall 
refuse to do so, or v/ho shall willfully mutilate or destroy 
any such books or papers, or any part thereof, shall be 
liable to a fine of nut less thun fifty nor more than two 
hundred and fifty dollars, at the discretion of the court. 

Sec. 66. All iiiies and penalties collected from a dis- 
trict officer by virtue of any of the provisions of this act, ^"¥=s ana 
shall enure to the benefit of that particular district. 
Those collected from any member of the District Board 
of School Direetors shall belong to the ward, and tliosc 
collected from parish officers to the parish. In the two 
former cases suit shall be brought in the name of the Dis- 
trict Board of School Directors; in the latter in the name 
of the parish and by the District Attorney. The amount 
in each case shall be added to the fund nest to be applied 
by the recipient for the use of common schools. 

Sec 67. The Board of Education may make all need- Discretionary 
ful rules and regulations to give efficiency to this •*! aw; powers of stale 
and should any defect be discovered therein while the 
General Assembly' is not in session, which is evidently 
the result of oversight, and which, in their opinion, is 
detrimental to the efficiency of the lavv^, they ma}' sup])ly 
such defect, and any regulations in their discretion not 
inconsistent with existing laws, until the matter can be 
acted on by the Genera,l Assembly. In such cases they 
must report the facts and the reasons thereof to the Gen- 
eral Assembly at its next meetmg. They may also make 
regulations fixing the powers and duties of any subordi- 
nate officer or board M'hen those duties are not sufficient- 
ly defined herein, making a like report thereof, as above 
required. 



M 



(iiiriscHeticii of 
School directors. 



fSpecial meeting 
to levy tiix. 



Notice of 
meetings. 



PayincDt of 
judgments. 



Appeals to sn- 
pierintencleiit 



Affidavit on ap- 
peal. 



Bnty nf snperin 
twidciu. 0)1 
appeal. 



Sec. 68. Kothiug .-in this act sliali' be so, constriiad ab 
to give the Ward Board of Scllool Directors jurisdiction 
over any territory included within the Hmits of any citj'- 
or iiicorporatsd village, with the territory annexed there- 
to for school purposes, which has organized separately 
as a school district under any other provision of this act. 

Sec. 69. If adecpaate provision has not been made at 
tlie annual district meeting for school-house purposes, or 
the payment of debts in any sub-district, the sub-director 
may, and shall, at the written request of one-fourth of 
the electors of the sub-district, call a meeting of the 
electors of the sub-district; said meeting to be held on 
the second Monday nest succeeding the call of the meet- 
ing. 

Sec. 70. , He shall give at least ten days' notice of any 
meeting so called, by causing said notice to be read in 
the presence of each 'school taught in his sub-district, if 
during term time; or if no school be in operation, then by 
posting written notices of said meeting in at least three 
conspicuous public places in his sub-district. 

Sec. 71. When a judgment has been obtamed against 
a school district, it shall be the duty of the District 
Board of School Directors to paj^ off and satisfy the same 
irora the proper fund by an order on the Treasurer of the 
district; and it shall be the duty of the district meeting, 
at the time for voting a tax for the payment of other 
liabilities of the district, to provide for the payment of 
such order or orders. 

Sec. 72. The Bible shall not he excluded from any 
school or in sTit u tiiTnTTTrTEis" State , under the control of^ 
tile ;>.;ard, ]ior shall ;xny pupil be required to read it, coii:;, 
trary to Ihe wishes ol^hisjDarent or guardian. 
.*" Sec. TSr 5ny person aggi'ieved by any decision or 
order of th.e District Board of School Directors, in matter 
of lavv' or of fact, may, within thirty days, after the ren- 
dition of such decision, or the making of such order, ap- 
peal therefrom to the Superintendent of the proper dis- 
trict. 

Sec 74 The basis of the proceeding shall be an affi- 
davit, filed by the party aggrieved with the Division 
Superintendent within the time allowed for taking the 
appeal. 

Sec 75. The affidavit shall set forth the errors com- 
plained of in a plain and concise manner. 

Sec 76. The Division Superintendent shall, v/itlun 
■ five days aiter the filing of such affidavit in his office, no- 
tify the secretary of the proper district in v/riting nf the 
taldng of sindr appeal. And the latter shall, v/ithin ten 
days after being thus notified, file in the office of the 
Division Superintendent a complete transcript of the 
record and proceedings relating to the decision com- 



plained of, which transcript shall be certified to be coi- 
roct by the secretary. « 

Sec. 77. After the fihng of the transcript aforesaid in jjoticu to partieb 
his office, he shall notify in writing all persons adverse- 
ly interested, of the time and place where the matter of 
the appeal will be heard by him. 

Sec. 78. At the time thus fixed for hearing, he shall 
hear testimony for either party, and for that purpose may '^®-^°^°'^>- 
administer oaths if necessai-y, and he shall make such 
decision as may be just and equitable, which shall be 
final, unless appealed from as hereinafter provided. 

Sec 79. An appeal m.ay be taken from the decision of the Appeal to state 
Division Superintendent to the State Board of Education board. 
in the same manner as provided in this act for taking ap- 
peals from the decision of the District Board of School 
Directors to the Division Superintendent as nearly as 
practicable, except that he shall give thu'ty days' notice of j^otjpg 
said appeal to the Division Superintendent, and the like ' 
notice shall be given the adverse party. And the decision, 
v>hen made, shall be final. 

Sec. 80. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as 
to authorize either the Division Superintendent or the ^'^ J'^^g^ont for 
State Board of Education to render a judgment for money; 
neither shall they be allowed any other compensation 
than is now allowed by law; provided, that all necessary 
postage must first be paid by the party aggrcived. 

Sec. 81. Any officer, school, municipal, parish or 
State, or any teacher of any public school who shall refuse fus'iQg^admis-" 
to receive into any school any child between the ages of sionto pupiis. 
six and twenty-one years, who shall be lawfully entitled 
to admission into the same, and who shall comply with 
such rules and regulations as may be presented by the 
District Board of School Directors and the State Board of 
Education, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of 
not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred 
dollars, land by imprisonment in the parish jail for not 
less than one month nor more than six months; and all 
such causes shall have preference before other criminal 
cases upon the docket of the court before which it shaU 
be brought; and such person so offending shall also bo 
liable to an action for damages by the parent or guardian 
of the child so refused. 

ADDITION. 

Skc. 82. Where lands shall be required for the crec- g^jj^Qi i^^ugg 
tion of a school house, or for enlarging a school house sites. 
lot, and the owner thereof shall refuse to sell the same 
for a reasonable compensation, the District Board of 
School Directors shall have the power to select and pos- 



Suit by land- 
holder. 



Failure of 
ofticers. 



State Seminary 
of Learning. 



Repealing 
clause. 



Admission of 
pupils in nor- 
mal schools. 



Model schools. 



Salaries In 
model schools. 



kess sucli suites feiilbi-acijig Space sufficieJatiy extensive to 
answer the purpose of scliool house and grounds. 

Sec. 83. Should such landholder deem the sum assess- 
ed too small, he shall have tlfe right to institute suit 
before any proper judicial tribunal for his claim, but the 
title shall pass from him to the scliool corporation. 

No person shall hold any office under the provisions of 
this act unless he is a qualified voter of the State. 

Sec. 84. A failure on the part of any district, parish 
or State of&cer to p>erform the duties imposed upon him 
in this act, and in the manner herein specified, is hereby 
declared a misdemeanor in office, upon conviction where- 
of such officer shall be punished by a fine not less than 
fifty and not exceeding one hundred dollars, and by im- 
prisonment in the parish prison for a term of not less 
than thirty days, and not exceeding three months. All 
prosecutions for offenses against this section sliall have 
precedence over all other cases before any justice of the 
peace, or parish or district court. 

Sec. 85. Nothing 'in this act shall be construed to 
apply to the State Seminary of Louisiana at Alexandria, 
it being the true intent and meaning of this act to leave 
that institution to be controlled by laws heretofore en- 
acted concerning it. 

Sec. 86. All acts and parts of acts in conilict with this 
act are hereby repealed, so far as they conflict therevnth. 

Sec. 87. In addition to the students admitted from 
the representative and senatorial districts as herein i:)ro- 
vided, there may be admitted fifty pupils, possessed of 
the reciuired qualifications, who desire to qualify them- 
selves as teachers in private schools and academies, who 
shall pay such sum per session as the State Board of 
Education may determine and purchase their own text 
books. 

They shall be subject in every resjDect, except the filing 
of written declarations in regard to teaching in the pub- 
lic schools, to the rules and regirlations of other students. 
* Sec. 88. The State Superintendent shall prescribe the 
course of stuc]y and supervise tiie general curriculum in 
every particular not provided for in this law. He shall 
make provision for model, primary and grammar schools, 
under permanent and highl}' qualified teachers, in v/hich 
the students of the Normal School sljall have opportunity 
to practice in the art of teaching. 

The salary of the teachers of the model and experi- 
mental schools shall be paid from the tuition fees derived 
from the pupils of said model schools, and those of the Nor- 
mal School who pay for their tuition; and any balance 
that may be required shall be paid by the State Board of 
Education out of the public school fund. 



n 



27 

DUTY OF SUPERINTENDENT IN REGARD TO SCHOOL LANDS. 

From Section 29 of Ad No. 321, of Man-h 15, 1S55. 
Sec. 89. (29.) He sliall, throuiz;!! the difforent dis- 

^ ' '^ . . lu ^ur-^ iuto 

tricfc attornoys, inquire annually into the condition of the con auoa of 
school sections, and institute such proceedings as may be 
necessary for their recovery when held illegally by indi- 
viduals, or for the collection of claims originating in the 
sale of scho )1 lands which may be in arrears ; and it 
shall be the duty of tlie District Attorney to prosecute the 
suits ; provided, the State Superintendent of Public Edu- 
cation shall bo authorized to employ other counsel to 
prosecute these suits, on the refusal or neglect of the Dis- 
trict Attoi'ney to attend to the same. Tlie money, when 
collected, shall be paid into the State treasury, and the 
interest thereof shall be placed to the credit of the district 
to vrhich it belongs. 

FRI^E SCHOOL FUND. 

From Secl.lons 31 to 30 of Act No. 321 cf March 15, 1855. 

Sec. 90. (31.) Tiie proceeds of all lands l^eretofure ^^.^^^constitutes 
granted by the United States to this State for the use or f"e school fund, 
support of school, except the sixteenth section in the 
various townships of the Stales specially reserved b}' 
Congress for the use and benefit of the people therein; 
and of ail lands which may hereafter be granted or be" 
cpieathed to the State, and not specially granted or be- 
queathed for any other purpose, which hereafter may be 
disposed of by the State, and the ten per cent, of the net 
proceeds of the sales of the public land which have 
accrued and are to accrue to this State under the act of 
Congress, entitled " An Act to appropriate the proceeds 
of the public lands and to grant pre-emption rights," ap- 
proved September fourth, eighteen hundred and forty- 
one, and the proceeds of tfee estates of deceased persons, 
to which the State has or may become entitled by law, 
shall be held by the State as a loan, and shall be and re- 
main a perpetual fund, to be called the Free School Fund, 
oji which the State shall ^nxy an annual interest of six per 



cent,; whicli interest, together with the interest of the 
trust fund deposited with this State by the United States, 
under the act of Congress approved the twenty-third of 
June, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, with the rents of 
all the unsold lands, except that of the sixteenth sections, 
shall be appropriated for the support of public schools in 
this State; and donations of all kinds which shall be 
made for the support of schools, and such other means 
as the Legislature may fi'om time to time set apart for 
school purposes, shall form a part of the fund, and shall 
also be a loan on which the State shall pay an interest of 
six per cent, per annum. 

DUTIES OF PAKISH TREASURERS AS TO SCHOOL LANDS, ETC. 

Sec. 91. (32). It shall be the duty of the parish trea- 

Sense of inhabit- „ ^ . , ■ ji ■ n, , j n , - 

antsastosaieof surers 01 tnc several parisaes m tins State, to have taken 

sctiool lands. p i • i i • p -i 

the sense ox the mhabitants oi the township to which 
may belong any lands heretofore reserved and appropri- 
ated by Congress for the use of schools, whether or not 
the same shall be sold, and the proceeds invested as au- 
thorized by an act of Congress approved February the 
fifteenth, eighteen hundred and forty-three, entitled an 
act to authorize the Legislatures of the States of Illinois, 
Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to sell the lands here- 
tofore appropriated for the use of schools in these States. 
Polls shall be opened and held in each township, after 
ing elections, advertisement for thirty days at three of the most public 
places in the township, and at the courthouse door, and 
the sense of the legal voters therein shall be taken within 
the usual hours, and in the usual manner of holding 
elections, which elections shall be held and votes received 
by a district director of public schools or a justice of the 
peace; and if a majority of the legal voters be in favor of 
selling the school land therein, the same may be sold, but 
not otherwise. The result of all such elections shall be 
transmitted to the Parish Treasurer, and by him to the 
State Superintendent. 

Sec. 82. (33). Before making sale of the school lands 
Ee-survey of 
lines; belonging to the State, it shall be the duty of the Parish 



29 

Treasurer, or other persons whose duty it may become, to 
superintend the sales, to cause a resurvey of such hues as 
from any cause ma}"- have become obHterated or uncer- 
tain; and for this purpose he is authorized to employ the 
parish surveyor, or in his default any competent survey- 
or, and the lines thus surveyed shall be marked in such 
manner as to enable those interested to make a thorough 
examination before sale ; and all advertisements made 
for the sale of anch lands shall contain a full description 
thereof, according to the original survey and that re- 
quired by this section. The expenses of making the sur- 
vey shall be paid by the Auditor of Public Accounts, out 
of the proceeds of the sale of the lands, on the warrant 
of the Parish Treasurer. 

Sec. 93. (34). (As amended and re-enacted by act 

Manner of con- 

267, of 1858). If the majority of votes taken in a town- ducting sales. 
ship shall give their assent to the sale of the lands afore- 
said, the Parish Treasurer shall forthwith notify the 
Auditor of Public Accounts of the vote thus taken, and 
upon his order the said lands shall be sold by the Parish 
Ti'easurcr at pubhc auction, before the courthouse door, 
or by the sheriff or an auctioneer^ to be employed by the 
treasurer at his expense, to the highest bidder, in qnan- 
tities of not less than forty acres nor more than one hun- 
dred and sixty, after having been previously appraised by 
three sworn appraisers, selected by the Parish Treasurer 
and Eecorder of the parish, after thirty days advertise- 
ment; but in no case at a less sum than the appraised 
value, -payable on a credit of ten years, as follows, to wit: 
Ten per cent, in cash, and the balance in nine annual in- 
stallments, the interest to be paid on the whole amount 
annually, at the rate of eight per cent, per annum. The 
notes shall be made payable to the Auditor of Public Ac- 
counts, secured by special mortgage on the land sold, and 
personal security, insolido, until final payment of principal 
and interest. In the event of the purchaser neglecting or 
refusing to pay any of these installments or interest at ma- 
turity, the'mortgage shall be forthwith closed, and the 
Parish Treasurer is hereby authorized to advertise and 



30 

sell the land as before pi'ovidecl for, and further author- 
ized and required to execute all acts of sale on behalf of 
the State for any such lands sold, to receive the cash 
payments and notes given for the purchase, which shall 
be made payable to the State Treasurer, and to place the 
same in the onice of the Auditor of Pablic Accounts for 
collection. All cash received, either for principal or in- 
terest from said sales, shall be transmitted by him to the 
State Treasurer, and any moneys thus received into the 
State Treasury from sales aforesaid, shall bear interest at 
the rate of six per cent, per annum, and be credited to 
the township to y/hich the same belongs, according to 
provisions of the act of Congress. The result of all sales 
made by the Parish Treasurer shall be forthv/ith notified 
by him to the State Superintendent. The Parish Treasu- 
rer shall be authorized to receive the whole amount bid 
for the lands, deducting the eight percent, interest which 
the credits would bear. 

DIJTrES OF niSTEICT DIRECrOES AND P.VEISH TREASUKEES AS TO 
UNSOLn SCHOOL LANDS. 

Sec. 94. (35.) Should a majority of the legal votes 
imal °^ ^"^""^ ^® against the sale of the lands, then it shall be the duty 
of the district directors where the same may be situated, 
to secure them fi'om injury and waste, and prevent illegal 
possession or aggression of any kind, and in conjunction 
with the Parish Treasurer to lease the same, or any part 
thereof, for a term not exceeding four years, according to 
the provisions of the second section of the act of Con- 
gress aforesaid, and to inform the State Superintendent 
thereof. Such lease shall only be made after due notice 
shall have been given by advertisement for at least thirty 
days, at two or more public places in the township, of 
the time and place when the land will be offered for lease 
to the highest bidder. In all cases ample security shall 
be required not only for the punctual payment of the rent, 
but for the protection of the land Irom all and every kind 
of waste and injmy. 

niSPOSITION 01' PEOCEEDS OE LA^JDS, ETC. 

Sec. 95. (36). All moneys that have been or may be 
hereafter received into the State treasiuy, and the inter- 



est that Las or may accrue tbereoii from the sale ol tiie Disposition oi 
sixtcentJi section of school lands or the school land war- Bchooi'^iaiiL. 
rahts belonging- to the various townships in tlie State, 
shall be placed to the credit of the township; and should 
the people of any township desire to receive for the nsc 
of the schools therein the annual interest payable by the 
State on funds deposited to their credit, or the annual 
proceeds of the loans, the same shall be paid to the 
treasurer of the parish for the use of the townships or 
districts, otherwise the interest shall be an accumulating- 
.fund to their credit until so called for. 

FKEE SCHOOL FUND IN STATE TREASL'EY. 

From St^dions 9 and 10 of Act No. 182 of March 19, 1857. 

Sec. 96. (9). The interest due upon the capital (of 
the free school fund) and the interest due upon subse- nmds in ti-ea- 
quent sales of the sixteenth sections shall be paid to the 
several boards of school directors of the districts in 
which the several sixteenth sections lie, on their own 
orders, approved by the Treasurer of the parish, at any 
time within two years after the same shall be due. It 
shall be the duty of the Auditor of Public Accounts, at 
the end of every fiscal year, to notify the treasurers of all 
the parishes in the State of the amount of interest coming 
to the several townships within the limits of the parish, 
from the interest accrued during the year then termina- 
ted, and at the same time to furnish the State Treasurer 
and Superintendent of Public Schools with a tabular 
statement of the amount due to each township. 

Sec. 97. (10). The rents of the sixteenth sections that 

^ may hereafter accrue shall not be paid into the State fgg^tf^ sections. 

' treasury, but shall be paid to the Parish Treasurer, and 

shall be subject to the order of the school directors of 

e districts in which the said sixteenth sections are loca- 

d, and shall be by the said school directors appropria- 

ed to the support of their respective pubhc schools. 

Act for Compensation !o Fairish Treasurer, No. 33, of March 
12, 1859. 

Sec 98. The parish treasurers of the several pai-ishes 



bottipensation to sliall be entitled to retain, out of the proceeds of the saie&i 

surets/'^^^" of sisteentli sections effected by them, a per centage of 

two and one-half per centum on the amount of said sales, 

to be deducted from the cash payment, and the same shall 

be in full compensation of their services. 

Act (for Golleciion of Notes j No. 217," March 17, 1859. 



Collection of 
claims. 



Anmilment of 
sales by pur- 
chasers. 



Exempt from 
seizure. 



Sec. 99. First — The Auditor of Public Accounts is 
hereby authorized and required to place the notes re- 
ceived from the sale of the sixteenth sections now due 
and those that hereafter fall due, in the hands of an at- 
torney or attorneys for collection. 

Second— Th.Q 
all such claims five per cent, and no more. 



ttorneys shall be allowed for collecting 



Act (for Relief of Purchasers) No. 83, of llarch 13, 1866. 

Skc. 100. In all cases of the sale of the school lands 
known as sixteenth sections heretofore made, where the 
purchase money has not been paid, the purchaser or pur- 
chasers shall have the right to annul the sale upon appli- 
cation to the District Court of the parish where the land 
is situated; Provided, That the judgment of nullity shall 
be obtained at the cost of the applicant and contradict- 
orily with the District Attorney in conjunction with the 
school directors in the district in which said land is situ- 
ated, who shall be made a party defendant in such suit; 
2Jrovided, also, that it shall appear upon the hearing that 
the value of the laud has not been impaired by any act of 
the purchaser; and provided further, that nothing in this 
act shall be so construed as to entitle the said purchaser 
to repayment of any part of the purchase money already 
paid. 

Act {Eo:empting Properly of Public Schools from Seizure) 
No. 151, March 14, 1855. 

Ssc. 101. Property dedicated to the use of and be- 
longing to public schools, or employed by municipal cor- 
porations for that purpose, shall be and is hereby ex- 
empted from seizure. 



tAW^ PROVIDINa FOS THE FMiSB EDUOATION OF TEACHERS. 

Normal bepdrlment in High' Schools — Organized in Fird 
District of New Orleam^, in 1858. 

Sec. 102. Act to establish a Normal Department iu the Public 
High Schools in the city of New Orleans, No. 84, apj)rovecl 
March 15, 1858, as amended and re-enacted by Act No. 153, 
March U, 1859. 

First. — The Directors of the public schools in the mil- ^'or^ai seiiooi 
nicipal districts of the city of Ne:v Orleans, are herel^tji^^^''^- 
authorized to establish in one or more of the Public _ _ 
Schools under theii" charge, a distinct class or divisia%*3ILg-^ r 
to be known as the Normal School Department, in which 
those only shall be entered who desire to receive, instri;^ 
lion iu the art and science of teaching ; said <*m|^teient 
to contain not less than ten and not more than o^^^^ — 
dred pupils, who shall remain therein not less than three 
months nor longer than three years, and who shall pre- 
viously, by written pledge, have declared their intention 
of engaging in the occupation of teaching in the State of 
Louisiana, for at least two years fi'om the time when 
diplomas shall have been awarded to them as graduates 
of said department. 

Second. — For the support and encouragment of such 
Normal School Department there shall be apj)ropriated for^s\?ppcfrt of. 
out of the general fund of the State the sum of fifty dol- 
lar$ for each person receiving instruction therein, in ac- 
cordance with the conditions hereinbefore prescribed, the 
said sum to be paid quarterly by the State Treasurer upon 
the warrant of the Treasurer of New Orleans, draTv'n on 
and approved by the Auditor of Public Accounts in favor 
of the Directors in whose municipal districts such depart- 
ments shall have been organized; Provided, That the ses- 
sion of said department shall be held on five days of each 
Week when not interrupted by national or State holidays, 
or by annual vacations ; and that the number of schol- 
ars presented as the basis for appropriation shall be in 
all cases the average attendance of scholars for the pre- 
vious quarter ', Provided^ moreover, That said directors 




u 



Reports of. 



Graduated 
puiDils. 



Shall furnisli satislafetdi'y e'Vidence of the actiial establish- 
ment and successful operation of such department, and 
that the total sum so appropriated shall not exceed five 
thousand dollars per annum. 

Third. — The said Directors shall exercise exclusive con- 
trol over such department and the teachers thereof, but it 
shall be their duty to make a special annnal report to the 
Common Council of the city of New Orleans, and also a 
similar report to the State Superintendent of Public 
Education, during the first ten days of the month of Jan- 
uary, showing in detad. the condition of such department 
under their charge, the number of pupils admitted and 
left, the time of their continuance therein, and the actual 
expense and the money received for the support of the 
same. 

Fourth. — Whenever the number of graduated pupils 
shall exceed the number of representative districts in 
New Orleans, the Superintendent of Public Education 
shah, upon application being made by the different par- 
ishes, distribute the excess among the parishes of the 
State in such proportion as he may deem just and equit- 
able. 

Act ( Sujjylementary ) constituting State Normal School, No. 
155, Approved March 10, 1860. 

Sec. 103. — The Normal School Department organized 
Normal schools ^-^ ^]^g ^hird day of April, 1858, and now in successful 

m city ot New j r ' ' 

Orleans for operation in the Fh'st District of the city of New Orleans, 

training of ^ ^ ■> 

female teachers, ig hereby Constituted and designated a State Normal 
School for the instruction and practical training of female 
teachers for the free public schools, and other educational 
institutions of Louisiana. 

Said Normal School shall be open to applicants from 
every x>ortion of the State Vvho shall possess the cxuahfi- 
cations of age, moral character, and mental culture pre- 
scribed by the Directors thereof, and who shall have de- 
clared their intention to- adoj)t teaching as a profession 
to be exercised y/ithin the State of Louisiana for at least 
two years after they shall have received appropriate cer- 
tificates or dix)lomas from said Directors. So soon as the 
Common Council of the city of New Orleans shall have 



35 

provided tbe sum of ten thousand dollars to aid in the 
erection of a suitable building, the State will contribute 
a like sum, which is hereby conditionally appropriated to 
be paid in f lur equal installments within two j^ears fi-om 
the date of action of the Common Council, on the war- 
rant of the Treasurer of New Orleans, approved by the 
Auditor of Public Accounts; and the title to said build- 
ing and the site thereof, shall be exclusively in the State 
of Louisiana: Provided, That the Normal School therein 
accommodated, shall be designated and organized in con- 
formity to the provisions of the first and second sections 
of the act to which this is supplementary; and that the 
Directors thereof shall provide for the education of forty- 
eigiit pupils, to be selected by the Governor, and ap- 
pointed annua]ly; said pupils being entitled to remain in 
the school for two years, and to be educated free of charge 
for tuition, the State not paying the fifty dollars, as pro- 
vided in the act to which this is supplementary, for H.ny 
one of the forty-eight pupils so appointed. 

The Du-ectors of the State Normal School shall an- 
nually furnish the State Superintendent with an abstract 
of the names, ages, residences, and qualifications of the 
graduated pupils of said school, and from time to time, 
with such other information as he may requu-e. 

IWEAIAL DEPAIIT1IK>T FOK EDUCATION OF JLALE TEACHERS IN STATE 
SEMINARY OF LEARNING, NEAR ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA. 

Sec. 104. Act (providiug for Beneficiary Cadets) No. 131, March 
28, 1867, amendatory of Section 10, of Act 9S, of 18G0 and of 
Section 1, of Act 63, of 186G. 

Each parish in the State shall have the right to delegate ^t 

•'■ o o '-' Normal depart- 

to the State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, ^^^^^ *° ^^'f^ 
to remain four years, unless sooner graduated, a number Learning. 
of beneficiaiy cadets corresponding with the number of 
representatives to which such parish is entitled in the 
House of Representatives, according to act approved 
March 4, 1859, entitled an act to apportion the represen- 
tation in the Senate and House in the General Assembly 
of Louisiana, according to the second census, made in 
1858, under the eighth and sixteenth articles of the Consti- 
tution; that the Police Jury of each parish, and the Board 



36 

of School Directors of the city of New Orleans, respec- 
tively, shall, at a regular meeting, to be held at least 
twenty days prior to the first Monday of September, elect 
such a number of beneficiary cadets as said parish or 
city may be entitled to as aforesaid, of such age and 
qualifications as may be prescribed by the Board of Su- 
pervisors of said seminary, and cause the cadet or cadets 
so selected to report in person at the seminary on or be- 
fore the said first Monday of September: Provided, That 
such cadets as are now actually attending the Seminary 
from any parish, or from the city of New Orleans, shall 
be included in the number to which said parish or city is 
entitled; and j^rovided further, That in case of any va- 
cancy in the delegation of any parish or of said city, an 
election to fill the same shall be held at the first meeting, 
of said jury or Board of Directors, after notice shall have 
been given of said vacancy by the Superintendent of said 
seminary, and the cadets so elected shall be entitled to 
admission into the seminary at such time as the board of 
supervisors shall prescribe; and provided further, that 
the selection of said beneficiary cadets shall be made 
from among those who have not themselves, or whose 
parents have not the means of paying their expenses, 
which facts shall appear by the certificate of the presi- 
dent of said jury or board of directors; and that said 
beneficiaries whose education is thus provided for shall 
be required at the close of theii* term at said institution 
to pursue the occupation of teaching school within the 
State for two years thereafter, and shall be required to 
report such facts to the Superintendent of said institu- 
tion; that the sum of four hundred dollars be and the 
same is hereby annually appropriated for two years to 
maintain and educate each of said beneficiary cadets, 
payable quarterly, on the thirty-first day of March, the 
thirtieth day of June, thirtieth day of September, and 
the thirty-first day of December, to the Treasurer of said 
institution, upon the warrant of the Governor, and that 
this act shall take effect from and after its passage. 



37 

SPECUL PKOVISIONS FOR THE FREE EDUCATION OF INDIGEKT 
YOUNG IVIEN. 

In Centenary College, Jackson, La. 
Sec. 105. Acts No. IIG and 271, approved Marcli 13 and 14, 1855. 

It shall be the duty of the Faculty of Centeoary Col- centenary 
lege to have at all times in the institution, and to educate 
gratuitously, ten indigent young men, to be designated by 
the Governor of the State. 

The college shall be subject to visitation by a com- 
mittee of the Legislature, and whenever the trustees 
shall fail to perform any duty required of them by the 
law, or whenever they shall establish a chair of theology 
or make sectarian dogmas any part of their, course of 
study, then, and in either of the above cases, the bond 
heretofore given by them to the State shall be due, and 
the Treasurer shall proceed to collect it, with legal in- 
terest from the time of such forfeiture. 

The Board of Trustees of said College shall, after the in^n^gnt stu- 
year eighteen hundred and fifty-five, receive from each '^"°*'-- 
Congressional District three indigent students, free from 
charge for tuition, in addition to the number of indigent 
students -now required by law to be educated in said 
college; said indigent students to be nominated by the 
Governor of the State, provided that no more than 
twelve students shall at any one time be domiciliated 
within the walls of said college under the provisions of 
this section; each pupil so received shall be entitled to 
four 3^ears tuition, and no indigent student to be admit- 
ted in said coUege before he has arrived at his thirteenth 
year. 

In Universilij of Louisiana, New Orleans. 

Sec. 106. Act (relative to University) No. 320, March 15, 1855. 

The Faculties of the University may admit, free of^, . 

•' '' ' University ot 

charge, such number of indigent young men of the State, Louisian, 
of good abilities and correct moral deportment as they 
may deem expedient. 



38 



public ferries 
and roads. 



FEEE PASSAGE OF CHILDREN OVER PUBLIC FEERIKS ANB ROADS. 

Act No. 1G2, of October 17, 1868. 

Sec. 107.— (1) The free right of passage or convey- 
cSidren^o\lr °^ ^^^6 ovei" all the public ferries, bridges and roads (ex- 
cept the ferries on the Mississippi river), which are 
rented out by the State or parish, or over which the State 
or parish exercise any control, or for which license is 
paid or toll exacted, is hereby granted to all children on 
foot attending fi'ee public schools, and no tolls or fees 
shall be demanded or exacted fi'om said children by the 
keepers or attendants of said ferries, bridges, or roads in 
their passage to or from school, between the hours of 
seven o'clock A. M., and nine o'clock A. M., and four 
o'clock P. 'M., and six o'clock P. M. ; provided, that on 
Sundays and school holidays, nO' scholar shall have the 
right to cross such ferries, bridges, or roads, on terms 
different from those of any ordinary passenger. 

(2) This act shall have effect from and after the es- 
tablishment of free public schools throughout the State," 
and it shall not apply to any lessee of a public ferry, 
whose contract or lease was made previous to the date of 
tliis act. 



Lessees of pub- 
lic ferries. 



EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION. 



Educational 
buildings ex- 
empt from tax- 
ation. 



From Section 2 of Act No. 114, ajyproved March 9, 1869. 

Sec. 108. (2) The following property shall be ex- 
empt from taxation: * * * ^: * * 
* * * * Colleges, school houses, and other 
buildings for the purpose of education, and their furni- 
ture, apparatus and equipments, and the lots thereto ap- 
purtenant and used therewith, so long as actually used 
for that irarpose only. ****** 



" Oh, woe to those -who trample on ;he miud, 

That deathless thing ! They know not what they do, 
Nor v,-hat they deal with. Man, perchance, may bind 

The flower his step hath bruised; or light anew 
The torch he quenches; or to music wind 

Again the lyre-string from his touch that flew;— 
But for the soul, oh, tremble, and beware 

To lay rude hands upon God's mysteries there!" 



DIGEST OF THE POWERS AND DUTIES 

OF THE 



Note — The numbers on the left indicate the sections of the compilatiou. 



I. -POWERS AND DUTIES OP STATE OFFICERS. 

1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GOVERNOR. 

11. To nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to appoint seven members of the State Board of 
Education, one from each Congressional District, and two 
from the State at large, who, with the Superintendent of Pub- 
lic Education, shall constitute the State Board of Education. 
12. To inspect the records of the State Superintendent. 

105, To designate indigent young men for gratuitous education in 
the Centenary College, Jackson, La. 

lO.'l To select and appoint annually forty-eight pupils who shall be 
entitled to two years free education in the State Normal 
School. 

104. To warrant quarterly for the appropriatiom for the education 
of beneficiary cadets in the Louisiana State Seminary. 

2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT. 

1. To be a member of the State Board of Education. 

o. To be ex officio President, and the esecutive officer of tho State 
Board of Education. 
12. To file all papers, reports and public documents in, and keep 
a fair record of all matters pertaining to his office, each 
year separatelj^ and hold the same in readiness to be 
exhibited to the Governor, or to a committee fi'om either 
House of the General Assembly, or to the State Board of 
Education i 

a 



1.1 To hold getierd ^lijieMsiOn ovei' ail Bivisioii Superintendents^ 
and all common, lilgli and Normal scliools of the State, and 
to see that the school sj'stem is cairied into efiect, and put 
in uniform operation. 

14. To meet at least once a year with Division Superintendents, 

for general conference in ail matters pertaining to the 
advancement of the common school system. 

15. To visit such schools as may be in his power, and witness the 

manner in which they are conducted. 

16. To cause to be printed and distributed among the Division 

Superintendents, copies of all school acts in force, with 
necessary forms, rules and regulations annexed ; also blank 
certificates, and all other blank forms necessary for carry- 
ing out this act, and all other school acts. 

17. To report annually to the State Auditor, on the first day of 

January, the number of persons in each parish of the State 
between the ages of six and twenty-one years. 
IS. To report to the General Assembly and State Board of Educa- 
tion, at each session thereof, which shall embrace: 

First — A statement of the number and condition of the schools in 
the State; number of scholars between six and twenty-one 
years of age; number in each parish who have attended 
school during the year; the number of books in division 
libraries and the value of all apparaius in the schools. 

Second — Such plans as he may have matured for the management 
and improvement of the school fund, and the better and 
more perfect organization and efiiciency of the schools. 

Third — All matters and things relating .to his office, and to common 
schools, as he shall deem expedient to communicate. 

18. To cause his report to be printed, and present five hundred 

copies thereof to each branch of the General Assembly, on 
or before the second day of the session. 
21, To appoint a Secretary and prescribe the duties of the same, 
not inconsistent with this act. 

19. To appoint, upon reasonable assurance of Division Superin- 

tendents that a number of not less than thirty teachers 
desire it, time and place of meeting of a Teachers' Institute, 
and such lectures as such teachers may desire, and trans- 
mit amount appropriated for said Institute to the Division 
Superintendent of the division in which it is to be held. 



43 

89. To inquire aDnuiilly into condition of School Sections, and 
institute proceedings, if necessary, for their recovery, when 
held illegally, or for collection of claims origmating from 
sale of such lands, and to employ other counsel U< prose- 
cute said suits, in case of neglect or refusal of the Dislrict 
Attorney to attend to the same. 

3. — POWERS AXn, DUTIES OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

6. Tu make all needful rules and regulations for the government 
of schools, and for the examination and superintendence of 
teachers, which rules and regulations shall be binding on 
all officers of the public schools. 

20. To appoint a Division Superintendent for the parish of Orleans, 
including the city of Nevv' Orleans, and one for each other 
general school divisions. 

10. To appoint a Board of School Directors, of nine (9) members, 
for the city of Xew Orleans, and for each other incorporated 
city, town or village in the State, a Board of School Direc- 
tors of not less than three (3) or more than live (5) mem- 
bers, to hold office for a term of two years. 

22. To appoint in each school district a Board of School Directors 
of three members, to hold office for a term of three (3) years, 

55. To prescribe duties of and require reports from Division 
Superintendents. 

8. To recommend a uniform series of text books to be used in all 

the common and normal schools of the State. 
45. To supply form for school register. 

9. To cause any school officer to withhold from any officer or 

teacher, any part of the pubHc school fund, until such officer 
or teacher shall have complied with the provisions of this 
act; to forbid the payment of any part of the public school 
fund to any district inwhich schools have not been kept in 
accordance with law, and to» declare all public school 
money thus witliheld forfeited. 

79. To make final decision in all cases of appeal. 

J-7. To fill vacancies occiuTing iji ofiices of Division .Superintend- 
ents, 



ii 

G1. To make all rules and regulations necessary to give efficiency 
to the law; to supply any defect appearing therein, and any 
regulation not inconsistent with existing laws, until the 
matter can be acted upon by the General Assembly, and in 
such cases to report the facts, and the reason thereof, to the 
General Assembly at its next meeting. 

67. To make regulations fixing the powers and duties of any sub- 
ordinate officer or board, when those duties are not suffi- 
ciently defined, making a like report thereof, as is aboye 
required, 

4.— POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE AUDITOB. 

57. To levy annually a tax for school purposes of two mills on the 

dollar, upon all taxable property in each parisli, 

58, To make a report to the police jury of each parish of the gross 

amount of the tax thus levied upon their parish. To 
quarterly, on the first Monday in March, June, September 
and December, apportion the amount of school tax collected 
among the several school districts of the State, according 
to the number of children in said districts between the 
ages of six and twenty-one years. 

92. To pay the expenses of making a survey of school lands, out 

of the proceeds of the sale of said lands, on the warrant of 
the Parish Treasurer, 

93. To order the sale of school lands, upon notification by the 

Parish Treasurer that the majority of the votes taken in any 
township are for said sale; and, when sold, to collect pay- 
ments for the same. 

96. To notify the treasurers of all parishes in the State at the end 
of every fiscal year, of the amount of interest coming to the 
several townships from interest accrued during the year 
from free school fund, and at the same time furnish the 
State Treasurer and Superintendent of Public Education, 
with a tabular statement of the amount due each township. 

99. To place the notes received from sale of sixteenth sections, 
when due, in the hands of an attorney for collection. 



5, — POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE TREASUKEK. 

58. To pay the apportionments of. the school fund made by the 
State Auditor, to the treasurer of each District Board of 
School Directors, upon the warrant of the president thereof, 
countersigned by the secretary. 

21. To pay the salary of the Secretary of the State Superintendent 
of Public Education, monthly, out of the school fund, on 
the order of the State Board. 

90. To apply annually, and to receive from the General Govern- 
ment, the ten per cent, of moneys due, and to become duo 
to this State from sales of public land. 

D3 . To receive the proceeds of the sales of school lands. 

6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE TAX COLLECTORS. 

5t. To collect the tax levied for school purposes by the State 

Auditor. 
58. To make monthly returns to the Board of Education of the 

amount of said tax collected by him, and of the persons and 

property from which it shall have been collected, and to pay 

over the same to the State Treasurer. 
61, To collect the tax levied for school purposes by the electors of 

a district in the same manner as State taxes are collected, 

and pay over the same quarterly to the treasurer of the 

district. 

7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT. 

21. To be prescribed by State Superintendent. 



II.— POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIVISION OFFICERS. 

1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF DmSION SUPERINTENDENTS. 

55. To conform to instructions of State Board of Education, as to 
matters within their jurisdiction; to serve as an organ of 
communication between the State Board of Education and 
Superintendent, and the District Boards of School Directors; 
to transmit to District Boards or teachers all blanks, circu- 
lax's and other communications which are to them directed, 



46 

and to entertain and decide all appeals taken from the 
decisions of District Boards; to organize and conduct, once 
a 3^ear, each in his own division, a teacher's institute at some 
central loca lity, to which access is convenient, and whe_re_^ 
the teachers will receive the_ encouragement of _hospitality; 
to encourage and assist at teachers' associations, to be con- 
vened four times a year if practicable, in each parish, or 
several parishes united, urging the attendance of the teach- 
ers, for the purpose of mutual conference and instruction in 
their duties : to report the number of private schools, acade- 
mies and colleges in his division, number of pupils, male and 
female, and all other information, in such form as the Super- 
intendent may prescribe, so as to present afullviev/of its 
educational facilities; and to perform such duties and make 
such reports, in addition to those required in this act, as 
the State Board of Education may determine. 

14. To meet with the State Superintendent, at such time and place 
as he may appoint, at least once in each yera', for the pur- 
pose of accumulating valuable facts I'elative to common 
schools, to compare views, discuss principles, listen to all 
communications and suggestions, and enter into all discus- 
sions relative to the compensation of teachers, their quali- 
fications, branches taught, method of instruction, text books, 
division libraries, apparatus, and all matters embraced in 
the common school system. 

48. To examine all persons, who shall present themselves at the 
proper time and place, as to their competency and ability 
to teach orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geogra- 
phy, English grammar and such other branches as may be 
required hereafter; in making which he may, at his option, 
call to his aid one or more assistants. 
49. To grant certificates to those whose examinations are satis- 
factory, keeping a register of the same, and also of those 
rejected, showing date when given. 

50. To meet once in three months (^having designated the place), 
all those who are desirous of passing- an examination, and 
for the transacting of all other business within his jurisdic- 
tion, and notify the parish judge of the place of meeting, 



51. "to o-ppoint one or more qualified deputies to make examina- 

tions for liim, in case he cannot be present, and issue cer- 
tificates to those who receive the recommendation of the 
deputies aforesaid. 

52. To revoke the certificate of an}' teacher for any reason that 

would have justified the withholding thereof, at the time 
given. 

53. To make a report to the State Board of Education on the fifth 

day of October, in each year, containing a digest of the re- 
ports to him by the secretaries of the District Boards, and 
such other matter as he himself may deem pertinent and 
material, especially such as will shov>r the condition of the 
schools under his charge; also, suggest such improvements 
in the system as he may deem judicious. 
5:i To file by the fifth day of October, in each year, with the 
recorders of the parishes, an abstract of the number of 
youths between the ages of sis and twenty-one years, re- 
siding within each ward and school district in their parishes. 

54. To forfeit to the school fimd of his district, in case of failure 

to make either of the reports required in the last section, 
the sum of fifty dollars, and besides be liable for all damages 
caused by such neglect. 

76. To notify in writing, the secretary, of the proper district of the 

taking of appeals within five days of the taking' thereof, 
who shall fide a complete transcript of the record and pro- 
cedure relating to the decision complained of in his (Divi- 
sion Superintendent's) office. 

77. To notify in writing, all persons adversely interested, of the 

time and place when the matter of the appeal will be heard 
by him. 

78. To hear all testimony for either party, and for that purpose 

administer oaths, if necessary, and make such decisions as 
may be just and equitable, which shall be final unless appeal 
be taken. 



iii.™powEiis AHii imim ot bisteigt offioees. 

1- POWERS A2Xt) DUTIES OF DISTElOr SCHOOL DIRECTORS IN THE CITY OF NEW 

ORLEANS, (board OF NINE MEMBERS.) 

10, To appoint in each ward a Board of District Directors, who 
shall have the same powers, and discharge the same duties, 
herein conferred upon Boards of District Directors in this 
State, and to hold their office for two years, and until their 
successors shall be duly elected and qualified . 

OF ALL DISTRICT BOARDS. 

25. To be a body corporate, and in their name hold property, 
become a party to suits and contracts, and do other corpo- 
rate acts. 
2G. To hold their regular meetings on the first Saturday after the 
first Monday of April and October, in each year, and hold 
such other special and adjourned meetings as occasion may 
require. They shall organize by electing from their own 
number a president and treasurer. 
2 1. First-— To msike all contracts, purchases, payments and sales 
necessary to carry out any yote of the district ; Provided, 
That before erecting any. school house, they shall consult 
with the Superintendent of Public Education, as to the most 
approved plan for such building. 

Second— To admit pupils not belonging to their district, on such 
terms as they may agree upon. 

Third — To determine the number of schools that shall be established 
and the length of time each shall be taught. 

Fourth — To fix the site for each school house, taking into considera- 
tion the wants and necessities of the people in each portion 
of the district. 

Fifth — To establish graded or union schools, and, as occasion re- 
quires, select a person who shall have general supervision 
of the schools in their district. 

Sixth — To determine what branches shall be taught in the schools of 
the district. 

Seventh — To require the secretary and treasm'er each to give bonds 
to the district, in such penalty and with such sureties as 
they may determine upon, conditioned for the faithful per- 
formance of their duties under this act. 



40 

Mighth--i!o examine the accounts of tho treasurer, and make soLtie- 
mentB with liim, and present at each regular meeting of tho 
election, a full statement of the receipts and expenditures of 
the district, and all matters delegated to them to perform, 
and all such other matter as tliey may deem important. 

Ninth— To audit and allow all just claims against the district, and to 
fix the compensation of the secretary and treasurer. 

Tenth — To visit the schools in their district, and aid the teachers in 
establishing and enforcing rules for the government of the 
schools, and see that they keep a correct list of the pupils, 
the period of time during which they have attended school, 
the branches taught and such other matter as may be re- 
quired by the Division Superintendents. 

Eleventh — -To divide their districts into sub-districts, and to desig- 
nate said sub-districts plainly upon a plot of the district 
provided for that pui'pose, and record the same in the dis-- 
trict records. To adopt a uniform series of text books for 
all the schools of their district, not to be changed oftener 
than once in two years. 
30. To employ counsel in all cases where suits are instituted by or 
against any of the school officers, to enforce any of the pro- 
visions herein contained. 
41. To be responsible in their corporate capacity for the payment 
of all contracts made by sub-district directors, for providing 
fuel for schools, employing teachers, repairiug buildings, 
and furnishing school houses and making all other pro- 
visions necessary for the convenience and prosperit}^ of the 
schools. 
52. To dismiss any teacher from any school in their district, upon 

sufficient cause shown- 
68. To apportion the school fund, apportioned to their district by 
the State Auditor, among the several sub-districts, accord- 
ing to the number of children in said sub'distriots between 
the ages of six (6) and twenty^one (21) years, and fi-om 
Raid apportionments to pay all claims against said sub- 
districts, upon the warrant of the director thereof, approved 
by the President of the District Board, countersigned by 
the Secretary^ 

7 



m 

88i To liold m pvMktkn ^thatevei' oter ciiiy temtory mchideci 
within the limits of ^ny city oi' incorporated village, which 
hfis organized separately as a school district, under any 
proyision of this act. 

71. To pay off and Satisfy any judgment obtained against a school 
district, by an order on the proper fund. 

82. To select and possess school house sites, embracing space 
sufficiently extensive to answer the purpose of school house 
and grounds, when the owners thereof refuse to sell the 
same for a reasonable compensation. 

91. To hold (when necessary and authorized) elections in town- 
ships as to sale of school lands, and forward result to 
Parish Treasurer, » 

94. To secure unsold school lands from injury and waste, and pre- 
vent illegal possession or aggression, and in conjunction 
with Parish Treasurer to lease them, and inform the State 
Superintendent thereof. 

96. To draw on Auditor (through Parish Treasurer) for amount 

of interest due by State to townships for support of schools 
therein. 

97. To appropriate rents of sixteenth sections to the support of 

public schools in townslaips in which said sections are lo- 
cated. 

100. To act as defendants, under counsel of District Attorney, in 

suits for relief brought by purchasers of sixteenth sections. 

101 . To protect from seizure all property belonging to public schools. 

2.-— POWERS AND DUTIES OF PRESIDENTS OF BOARDS OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS. 

21. To bring suits in name of district, on bonds of treasurer and 
secretary, in case of breach of conditions thereof. 

29. To preside in all meetings of the board and of the district; 

draw all drafts on the State Treasurer, for money appor^ 
tioned to his district; sign all orders on the district treasury, 
specifying the fund on which they are to be drawn, and the 
use for which the money is assigned, and sign all contracts. 

30. To appear in behalf of the district in all suits brought by or 

against the same, unless individually a party thereto. 
43. To approve all contracts with teachers. 
59. To preside over the regular meetings of the district. 



6i 

3. — -POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARIES OF BOARDS OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS. 

27. To give bond to the district, conditioned for the faithful per- 
formance of his duties. 

30. To appear in behalf of district in cases where the Prcsiilent 

of the Board is individually a part\\ 

31. To record all proceedings of the board and district meetings, 

in separate books kept for that purpose; preserve copies 
of all reports made to Division and State Superintendents; 
file all papers transmitted to him pertaining to the business 
of his district, and shall countersign all drafts, w-arrants 
and orders drawn by the president. 

32. To keep a correct account of all expenses incurred by the dis- 

trict, and present the same to the Board of Directors, to be 
audited and paid as herein provided. 

33. To give ten days notice of all regular and special meetings of 

the district, by posting written notices in five different con- 
spicuous places therein, one of which shall be at or near the 
place of meeting of the District Board. 
31. To make report to the Division Superintendent, on or before 
the twentieth of September, of each year, which shall con- 
tain the following, viz : 

First — The number of persons, male and female each, in the district, 
between the ages of sis and twenty-one years. 

Second — -The number of schools and branches taught. 

Third — The number of pupils and the average attendance of the same 
in the schools. 

Fourth — The number of teachers employed, and the average com- 
pensation paid per week, distinguishmg males from females. 

Fifth— The length of school in days, and the average cost of tuition 
per week for each scholar. 

Sixth — The aggregate amount paid teachers during the year, and the 
balance of teacher's fund in the treasury. 

Secenth — The text books used, and the number of volumes in the dis- 
trict librar}', and the value of apparatus belonging to the 
district. 

Eighth — The number of school houses, and their estimated value. 

Ninth— The amount raised within the year by tax for the erection of 
of school houses, the amount for teacher's fund, and for 
other purposes of this act, stating separately the amount 
for each. 



S2 

Tenth — The amount of public f imd received from the parish treasury, 
and, if any, from other sources, stating what and how much, 
and such other information as he may deem necessary. 

35. To forfeit the sum of twenty-five dollars (and make good all 

losses resulting from such failure) in case of failure to file 
the report as above directed. 
58. To countersign all drafts, warrants or orders drawn by the 
President of the Board of District Directors. 

58. To countersiga warrants drawn by sub-district directors on 

the Treasurer of the Board of District Directors, after 
having first been approved by the President of the District 
Board. 

59. To be secretary of district meetings. 

76. To file in the office of the Division Superintendent, in cases of 
appeal, within ten days after being notified by the Division 
Superintendent of such appeal, a complete transcript of the 
record of the proceedings, relating to the decision com- 
plained of, and certify to the correctness of the same. 

4. POWEES AND DUTIES OF TEEASUBEKS OE BOAEDS OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS. 

27. To give bond to the district, conditioned for the faithful per- 
formance of his duties under this act. 

36. To hold all moneys belonging to the district ; to pay out the 

same on the order of the president, countersigned by the 
secretary, and to keep a correct account of all expenses and 
receipts, in a book provided for that purpose. 

37. To keep a separate account with the "teachers fund," and 

" school house fund," and pay no order that does not specify 
the fund on which it is drawn, and the specific use to which 
it is applied, and if there are not sufficient funds in hand 
to pay the warrants drawn, to make partial payments there- 
on, as nearly as may be an equal proportion of each warrant. 

38. To receive all money apportioned to the district by the Auditor 
58. of Public Accounts, and also all money in the parish treas- 
ury, collected on the district tax (for school purposes) for 
his district. 

39. To render a statement of the finances of his district from time 

to time, as may be required by law, and his books shall 
always be open for inspection. 



53 

W.— POWERS AND DUTIES OF SUB-DISTRICT OFFICERS. 

1. — -POWERS AND DUTIES OF SUB-DISTRICT DIRECTORS. 

40. To make, aucl keep oil record, between the first day of August 

and fifteenth day of September, of each year, a list of the 
names of all heads of families in his sub-district, and the 
number of children in each family between the ages of six 
and twenty-one years, distinguishing males from females, 
and report the same to the secretary of the district, on or 
before the fifteenth day of September, of each year. To 
also report the number of schools, the branches taught, 
number of pupils, average attendance of same in each, 
number of teachers and compensation of each, text books 
used, the number of school houses and the essential value 
of each. 

41. To make all necessary contracts for providing fuel for schojls, 

employing teachers, repau'iug, building and furnishing 
school houses, and making all other provisions necessary 
for the convenience and prosperity of the schools in his 
sub-district, and to report all contracts made in conformity 
with the provisions of this section, to the District Board of 
School Directors. 

42. To dismiss any pupils from the schools in his sub-district for 

gross immorality, or for persistent violation of the regula- 
tions of the schools, and to readmit them if he deems proper 
to do so, and to visit the schools in his sub-district at least 
twice during each term of said schools. 

43. To sign contracts in writing with teachers, specifying the 

length of time in weeks the school is to be taught, the com- 
pensation per week or per month of four weeks, and such 
other matter as may be agreed upon. 

44. To collect all debts due his sub-district, apply all funds that 

may thus come into his hands, to the special purpose for 
which they were designed. To file bonds with the Presi- 
dent of Board of School Directors before entering upon 
duties. 
69. To call meetings of electors of his sub-district, upon the written 
request of one-foui'th of said electors, to be held on the 
second Monday next succeeding^ the call of the meeting, 



54 

whenever adequate provisions have not been made at the 
annual district meeting for school honse purposes or the 
payment of debts. 
To give at least ten days notice of any meeting so called, by 
causing said notice to be read in the presence of each school 
taught in his sub-district, or, if no schools are in operation, 
by posting written notices of said meeting in at least three 
conspicuous public places in such sub-district. 



V.~POWERS AND DUTIES OF OTHER OFFICERS. 

1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PAKISH TKEASURESS. 

91. To take (when necessary and authorized) a sense of the 

inhabitants of townships, holding an election for the pur- 
pose, as to the sale of school lands, and transmit result of 
said election to State Superintendent. 

92. To cause re-survey of uncertain lines, before sale, and warrant 

on the Auditor for payment of expenses thereof. 

93. To notify the Auditor of vote in favor of sale of said school 

land, and on his order to sell the same, execute deeds, send 
cash and notes to State Treasury, and notify State Superin- 
tendent of result. 

94. To conjointly with District Directors, rent unsold lands, and 

inform State Superintendent thereof. 

95. To receive, for use of townships or districts, the annual interest 

payable by State, or moneys from sale of lands or warrants, 

96. To approve, after notification from Auditor, drafts of Boards 

of Directors for interest due townships in their districts. 

97. To collect rents of sixteenth sections, and hold the same sub- 

ject to order of directors. 

98. To retain, for services in selling sixteenth sections, two and 

one-half per cent, of cash proceeds of the same. 

2. DUTIES OF DISTKICT ATTORNEYS. 

6Q. To bring suit in cases of all fines and penalties imposed upon 
parish of&cers. 



BO. (i^o inquire, ftttntiaUy, into the eonditioii ol sahdol tactions, 

institute neeessaiy pi^oeeedings, prosecute suits and pay 

amounts recovei'cd into State Treasury. 
94. To aid directors, when requested, in ejecting trespassers from 

school lands, and in protecting them from aggression. 
99. To collect (when authorized by Auditor) notes due from sales 

of sixteenth sections, at a maximum compensation of five 

per cent. 

100. To defend, as counsel of school directors, the interest of the 

State and township, in suits by purchasers for annulling 
sales, etc. 

101. To aid directors in protecting from seizure property of public 

schools. 



AFPEiNDlX, 



T.— SCHOOL FUNDS IN STATE TREASURt. 

CURREXT SCHOOL FUND. 

This fund was first created by act No. 200, approved March 10, 1857, 
and now consists : 

1. Of the two mill tax, as provided in the fifty-seventh section of 

the foregoing compilation, and is estimated at a maximum 
of about $460,000. 

2. Of ninety per cent, of the poll tax as provided in the fourth 

(5tli) section of act No. 11-4, approved March 9, 1869, esti- 
mated at $36,000. 

3. Of amount accruing from the license of the Louisiana State 

Lottery Company, article 5, section 1, act No. 25, of 1868, 
$40,000. 

Section 2 of the first act above mentioned rec[uires that the current 
school fund shall be used fur the support of public schools, and that 
the surplus of receipts over expenditures for any one year, shall be 
appropriated to the support of such schools during the ensuing year. 

The appropriation out of this fund, for 1869, is $250,000. 

Sections 57 and 58, of the foregoing compilation, define the Audi- 
tor's duties in relation to said fund ; sections 21, 29, 55 and 58, 
those of the Treasurer. 

FEEE SCHOOL ACCT'MULATIXG FUND. 

The Free School Accumulating Fund was created by act No. 265, 
approved March 14, 1855, and is derived from. 

1. The interest on the vested proceeds of school lands (1211 bonds, 

representing ??1,193,500) annually, $71,610. 

2. The interest on bunds belonging to the " Free School Fund,'' 

remaining due after payment to townships. 

3. The receipts fi'om sales of sixteenth sections. 

4. The ten per cent, tax on estates descending to foreign heirs, and 

and other funds received in trust for fi'ee school purposes. 
(See section 89 of Compilation), 

a 



oa 



Tlie Auditor and tCre^d-sil^ei' &^e required to inve&t sltdh funcisj 
with the Governor's sanction, in stocks, bonds of the State, or bonds 
of the consolidated city of New Orleans, bearing six per cent, inter- 
(st, and hold said investment sacred for the accumulation of a fund 
sufficient to produce, by the dividends derived from it, an amount 
equal to that required annually for the support of free public schools. 

Section 2, of act No. 200, of 1857, repeals other lorovisions of this 
act, and those of act No. 181, of 1855. As to such investment and 
the interest thereon, see x4.ct No. 182, of March 19, 185t, ("in 
relation to certain debts of the State '') ; sections 1, 2 and 3, in 
lieu of section 7, repealed ; see section 2, of act No. 48, of March 
6, 1858 ; and sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, of act No. 182, of 
1857 ; and finally, act No. 26, of March 12, 1859. 

Section 13 and act No. 26 provide that the receipts constituting 
the "Free School Accumulating Fund" shall not be mingled with 
any other moneys in the Treasury, and that the Auditor and Treas- 
urer shall annually report to the Governor the amount belonging to 
said fund, and invest it in any of the bonds receivable by the State, 
as securities for the circulation of the banks established under the 
Free Banking Law. 

Section 12 makes the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer 
joint custodians of the Free School Bonds, and the Auditor the 
collector of the interest coupons thereto attached. 



II.- STATE SEMINAEY OF LEAENING AND MILITARY 

ACADEMY. 

ESTABLISHED NEAK ALEXANDRIA, LA. 

Act for Organization and Government, No. 228, of March 15, 1858— as siibse- 
qnently amended, and now in force. 

Section 1. (As re-enacted by section 1, act No. 98, approved 
March 7, 1860). The "State Seminary of Learning," established 
near the town of Alexandria, in the parish of Rapides, shall be here- 
after designated as " The Louisiana State Seminary of Learning 
and Military Academy," and shall be under the direction and control 
of fourteen supervisors, who shall be a body corporate, under the 
style and title of the " Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana State 



69 

Seminary of Learning and Military Academy," with the riglit, as 
such, to use a common seal, and who shall be capable in law to 
receive all donations, subscriptions and bequests in trus: for said 
Seminary and Acaclem}^ and to recover all debts which ma} become 
the property of said Seminary and Academy, and to sue and be sued 
in courts of justice ; and in general to do all acts for the benelit of 
the Seminary and Academy which are incident to bodies corporate. 

Sec. 2. (As re-enacted by act No. 14, approved February 14, 
18G7). The Governor of the State shall be e.r officio President of the 
Board of Supervisors, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 
the Superintendent of Public Education, and the State Engineer 
shall be e.r officio members of said Board. The remaining ten mem- 
bers thereof shall be appointed by tlie Governor, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, for four years ; and they shall 
continue to exercise the duties of their office until their successors 
are qualified, and shall be removed by the same pov/er and in the 
same manner as provided lor in their appointment. The Governor 
shall select ten members as follows : three from the parish of 
Rapides, two from the parish of Orleans, and five from the remain- 
ing parishes ; provid"!, that not more than one member shall be 
selected from any one of the said reoudning parishes. 

Said Board shall elect one of the members from Rapides as Vice 
President, to serve in the place and absence of the Governor ; the 
three members from the parish of Rapides shall constitute an Execu- 
tive Commitiee, to be convened, by the President or Yice President, 
for the transaction of such urgent business and important business 
as, m the opinion of the President or Vice President, cannot be 
delayed till a meeting of the Board of Supervisors can be convened ; 
and the proceedings of the Executive Committee shall be submitted 
to the Board of Supervisors for approval or disapproval at the first 
meeting of the said Board subsequent to the meeting of the Execu- 
tive Committee. The Board of Supervisors and the Executive Com- 
mittee shall hold their meetings at any point designated hj the 
President or Vice President of the Board ; provided, that one meeting 
shall be held annually at the State Serainaiy and Mihtary Academy 
at the time of the commencement exercises of said Academy. 

Sec. 3. (Act No. 98, March 7, 1860, as modified by foregoing 
second section, 1867). The Board of Supervisors shall have stated 
meetings at such times as the President or Vice President of said 



Board shall deem necessaiy to conYene tliem, a majority of tlie 
whole Board constituting a quorum for the transaction of business ; 
but any Supervisor, who shall fail to attend two consecutive meet- 
ings, shall be deemed and considered as refusing to act as such, and 
upon such failure to attend being notified to the Governor, he shall 
proceed to the appointment of his successor, in the same manner as 
hereinbefore prescribed ; promded, that if such failure be occasioned 
by sickness or temporary absence from the State, the provisions of 
this section shall not apply thereto ; provided, however, that any 
four members of the board, together with the President or Vice 
President, shall be a sufficient quorum for the transaction of 
business. 

Sec. 4 (Act No. 98, March 7, 1860, amending section 5 of act 
of 1858). The Board of Supervisors shall have power to engage a 
superintendent and other professors, and all other officers necessary 
for conducting the literary, financial and civil concerns and interests 
of the said Seminary and Academy, and to remove and displace the 
same at pleasure ; to fix and regulate the salaries of the professors 
and all other officers, tuition fees, and all other charges; to establish 
rules for the good government and discipline of the students ; to 
prescribe the duties of all officers, servants, and others ; to confer 
diplomas, upon the recommendation of the superintendent and 
faculty, on students for proficiency in any branch of science or 
department of learning ; and in general to make all rules and 
regulations which may be deemed necessary for the proper govern- 
ment of the said Seminary and Academy, and for promoting the 
objects for which it was founded ; but nothing in this act shall be 
construed as obligating the State to pay any debts contracted by the 
Board of Supervisors, in case they should at any time exceed the 
appropriations made for the support of said Seminary and Academy. 

Sec. 5. (6th of act No. 228, March 15, 1868). The Board of 
Supervisors shall, at their first meeting elect a secretary, who shall 
record, attest, and preserve their proceedings, and a treasurer, who 
shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties, and in 
such sum as shall be deterrnined by the Board. 

Note. --Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of act of 1858, refer to the original board of 
trustees and the first board of supervisors, exclusively, except as to the foUomng 
provisions, which are still in force : 

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Board of Supervisors, inime- 



61 

diately after theif organization, to prescribe the course oF studies to 
he pursued at the Seminar}-, and the number of professors, and to 
draw up a project of the system of instruction so adopted. 

Sec. 7. The Board of Supervisors shall be charged with the 
preservation and repair of tlie buildings of the Seminary, and the 
care of the grounds and appurtenances. 

Note.— Bcctious 3, 11, 12 and 13 of the act of 1858 have bseu repealed hy nets 
of 1860, T.G and '67. 

Sec. 8. (Gth of act No. US, of March 15, 1860). In the course of 
study pursued at the said Seminary and Academy, the Board of 
Supervisors shall cause instructions to be given in the military 
branches of science ; the students shall be called cadets, and shall 
compose a military corps, under the command of the superintendent 
and such other professors as may be assigned to that branch of 
instruction. They shall constitute a guard to all public property'-, 
arms, or munitions now there or which may hereafter be assembled 
there ; and the superintendent shall receipt for all such property, 
arms, or munitions, and shall obey all orders relative to their preser- 
vation or delivery as he may receive from the Governor of tiie State. 

Sec 9. (7). The Governor of the State shall cause to be issued 
to the superintendent a commission as colonel, and to such other 
professors as may be assigned to command, commissions as majors' 
captains, or lieutenants, according to the strengtli of the command; 
provided, that such commissions shall not entitle the holders to any 
rank in the militia of the State, or to any claim whatever to compen- 
sation other than what is attached to their positions as professors. 

Note. — Sec, in this connection, act No. 202, of March 1-1, 1860, "isroviding 
for the establishment of a, ' central State arsenal, ' in connection with the Semi- 
naiy," etc., and act No. 15, of Februaiy 1^, 1867, "requesting the Secrettuy of 
"War to revoke his order forbidding the usual military exercises at the Seminary, 
and to permit their resumption, as has been done at similar institutions in other 
States. 

Sec 10. (8th of act No. ;8, of 18G0.) The reasonable expense? of 
the Supervisors, in going to and attending the meetings of the Board? 
shall be paid by the State ; and it shall be the duty of the Board of 
Super-sisors to set forth in their annual report the amount of such 
expenses. 

Note. — The remainder of this section has been repealed. 

Sec 11. (10th of act No. 98, of 1860). Proviso: The beneficiary 
cadets (in the State Seminary) shall be placed on a footing of 



62 

perfect equality with the paying cadets in said institution ; and it 
shall be the duty of said Board of Supervisors to report to the Legis- 
lature the exact costs incurred in supporting a cadet. 

Note. — The tenth section of the act 98, of 18G0, in so far as it provided for bene- 
ficiary cadets, Avas amended by the first section of act No. 63, approved March 7, 
1866, and this first section was re-amended and re-enacted by act No. 131, aj)- 
Xjroved March 28, 1867, which said act appears hereinbefore as section 103 of the 
compilation. 

Sec. 12. (Section 2, of act No. 63, of March 7, 1866.) The State 
Librarian is directed and required to turn over to the superin- 
tendent of said institution copies of any books of which there may 
be duplicates in the library of the State, for the use of the " Lou- 
isiana State Seminary and Military Academy,'' taking therefor the 
receipt of said superintendent, which shall be filed in the office of 
the State Librarian as his vouchers for said books, when called upon 
to produce or turn over the same. 

S.EC. 13. (Section 2, of act No. 162, of March 28, 1867). No 
gambling house or drinking saloon, or store for the barter or sale of 
any kind of merchandise v/hatever, shall be established within two 
miles of said institution. 

Sec. 14. (Of act No. 228, approved March 18, 1858). The Board 
of Supervisors shall at all times conform to such laws as the Legis- 
lature may, from time to time, enact for their government, and the 
said Seminary shall in all things and at all times be subject to the 
control of the Legislature ; and the said Board of Supervisors shall 
make an annual report to the Legislature during the first week of 
the session, embracing a full account of the disbursements, and a 
general statement of the condition of said Seminary. 

SEMINARY FUND. 

(See Article 136, of Constitution of 1845; Article 138 of that of 1852, 
and Article 145, of that of 1864. j 

This fund is vested in the same manner as the " Free School 
Accumulating Fund," under act No. 182, of March 19, 185t, 
already referred to. It consists of one hundred and thirty-eight 
bonds, representing $138,000, bearing six per cent, interest per 
annum. (See Auditor's Eeport of January 1, 1869.) 

The appropriations for the re-organization and support of the 
Seminary, in 1866, 186t and 1869, have been as follows ; 



Ad Koi 68} of March 7, 1866; 

Interest on fund for 1863, 1864 unci 1865 |25,800 

For repairs and refitting- of bnilding, outhouses, etc 5,000 

For renewal of library, apparatus, etc., destroyed or lost 

during war 5 000 

For maintenance of 52 beneficiary cadets, at $300 15,600 

For salary of secretary, traveling expenses of supervisors, 

stationery and incidentals 1,000 



Total for 1866 $52,400 

Act No. 131, of March 28, '1867. 

For maintenance of 98 beneficiary cadets at $400 $39,200 

Act No. 153, of March 28, 1867. 

For defraying expenses of supervisors 1,000 

Act No. 162, of March 28, 186 r 

For additional repairs to buildings and improvement of grounds 5,000 
For enlarging the library and philosophical apparatus 5,000 

Act No. 119, of March 25, 1867. 

Interest on fund for 1862 and 1866 16,380 

Total for 186t $66,580 

Act No. 73, of March 6, 1869. 

For the erection of three professors' houses $15,000 

For repairs to buildings as now erected 5,000 

For the erection of additional outhouses 5,000 

For purchase of additional philosophical apparatus and libra- 
ry books 5,000 

For traveling expenses of board of supervisors for year 1809 1,000 

Act No, 139, of 3Iay 25, 1869. 

Interest on fund for 1809 8,220 

For expenses of 98 cadets one year, at $40 per month 39,200 

Total for 1869 $(8,420 

Payable to treasurer of Seminary on warrant of the flovernor. 



04 

nL"-UNITEBSITY 01^ LOUIStAJ^'A. 

l>f JsEW OELEAiStS. 

This Universit}'-, per act No. 81, of March 3, 1860, is under the 
control and supervision of eleven administrators, of which body the 
Governor, Chief Justice of the State and the Mayor of New Orleans 
are ex officio members, the remaining eight being appointed every 
four years by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate. The administrators receive no compensation for their 
services. 

The powers and duties of the administrators are defined in section 
2 et seq. of act No. 320, approved March 15, 1855. Of the four 
departments or faculties, of which the University should be com- 
posed, according to said act, and the 143d Article of the Constitu- 
tion of 1864, but two have been organized, viz : those of Law and 
Medicine. (See Art. 142, of Constitution of 1868). 

The appropriations in 1866 and 1861 "for the relief of the Univer- 
sity," have been as follows : 

Act No. 130, 3Iarch 22, 1866. 

For repairs of buildings and to maintain the University $25,000 

Act No. 182, of March 28, 1867. 

For fitting up librar}^, leciure and professors' rooms, and com- 
pleting repairs 3,000 



Total , $28,000 



IV.— INSTITUTIONS OF LEAENING GENERALLY. 

ActNTo. 261, approved March 14, 1855. - 

Section 1. The president and trustees of u.nj institution of learn- 
ing established in the State of Louisiana, which is or may be here- 
after incorporated as a body politic, in conformity with the Consti- 
tution and laws of the State, who may wish so to do, can deposit in 
the Treasury of the State of Louisiana, all sums of money intended 
solely for the uses and purposes of such institutions of learning; 
and all sums so deposited shall be invested in the bonds or obliga- 



lions of the Stet^ df Louisiana Ot of the United States, and iLc' 
interest accminf^ thereon, as realized, shall bo paid over to aiu'li 
corporatioji, or again invested as they may desire. 

Sec. 2. Should any endowment be made, either by donations 
inter vivos or viortis causa, to establish a professorship in any insti- 
tution of learning iu the State duly incorporated, on the principal 
being deposited in the State Treasury, the same shall bo invested, 
and the interest as realized shall be paid over as stipulated iu the 
preceding section ; and it shall be the duty of the Auditor of PiibUe 
Accounts and the State Treasurer to make the investments to the 
greatest advantage and interest of said institution. 

MISCELLANEOUS APPROPRIATIONS, ETC., EOK BENEFrT OF EDITCATIOX. 

Ad No. 156, of March 22, 1866. 

For purchase of 2666 copies of Spencer's English Grammar 
for gratuitous distribution throughout the State (from 
Current School Fund) $2,000 

Act No. 184, of March 28, 180T. 

For repairs to Poydras College, parish of Pointe Coupee, (from 

Current School Fund) i*;2,r)00 

Act No. 154 of March 28, 1867. 

Lands belongmg to the State laboratory at Mount Lebanon, 
Bienville parish, donated to trustees for the use and benefit 
of Mount Lebanon Female College 

Act No. 163, of October 19, 1868. 

For Third District Indigent Orphan School, Greatmen street, 

Xew Orleans $2,500 



V.^-CONSTITUTION OF 1868, TITLE VII. 

PUBLtO t;DTTCATlO:jJ. 

^Vrticle 1o5. The (Jeiierul Assembly shall establish at least on(^ 
tree public school in every parish throughout the State, and shall 
I provide for its support by taxation or otherwise; All children, of this 




1)6 admitted td the publid Sciiools OJ? otlier institutions of learning 
siistaiaecl of establisbed by the State, in commoQ, without distiction 
of race, color or brevious condition. There shall be no separate 
schools or institutions of learning established exclusively for any 
raee by the'State of Louisiana. 

Art. 13G. No municipal corporation shall make any rules or regu- 
lations contrary to the spirit and intention of article one hundred 
and thirtj'-five (135). 

Akt. 137. There shall be elected by the qualified electors of this 
State a Superintendent of Public Education, who shall hold his 
office for four years. His duties shall be prescribed by. law, and he 
shall have the supervision and the general control of all public 
schools throughout the State. He shall receive a salary of five thou- 
sand dollars per annum, payable quarterly, on his own warrant. 

Art. 138. The general exercises in the public schools shall be 
conducted in the English language. 

Art. 139. The proceeds of all lands heretofore granted by the 
United States, for the use and support of public schools, and of all 
lands or other property which may hereafter be bequeathed for that 
purpose, and of ail lands which may be granted or bequeathed to 
the State and not granted or bequeathed expressly for any other 
purpose, which may hereafter be disposed of by the State, and the 
proceeds of all estates of deceased persons to which the State may 
be entitled by law, shall be held by the State as a loan, and shall 
be and remain a perpetual fund, on which the State shall pay an 
annual interest of six per cent., which interest, with the interest of 
the trust fund deposited with this State by the United States, under 
the act of Congress, approved June 23, 1836, and the rent of the 
unsold lands, shall be appropriated to the support of such schools, 
and this appropriation shall remain inviolable. 

Art. 140. No appropriation shall be made by the General Assern-' 
bly for the support of any private school or any private institution 
of learning whateTer, 

Art. 141. One-half of the funds derived from the poll tax herein 
provided for shall be appropriated exclusively to the support of the 
free public schools throughout the State, and the University of New 
Orleans. 



67 

Art. 1-12. A uaiversity shall be established and maintained in the 
city of New Orleans. It shall be composed of a law, a medical and 
a collegiate department, each with appropriate faculties The 
General Assembly shall provide by law for its organizati ai and 
maintenance ; Provided, That all departments of this institution of 
learning shall be open in common to all students capable of matricu- 
lating. No rules or regulations shall be made by the trustees, fj^cul- 
ties or other officers of said institution of leaning, nor shall any laws 
be made by the General Assembly violating the letter or spirit of 
the article under this title. 

Akt, 113. Institutions for the support of the insane, the education 
and support of the blind and the deaf and dumb, shall always be 
fostered by the State, and be subject to such regulations as may be 
prescribed by the General Assembly. 



VI— UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. 

AN ACT TO EST-U3LISH A L-EPARTMENT OF EDUCATIOX, APPROVED MARCH 2, 

1867. 

Section 1. Be il enacted by the Senate aad House of Bejyresentattves 
of tJie United States of America in Congress assembled, That tliere shall 
be established, at the city of Washington, a department of education, 
for the purpose of collecting such statistics and facts as shall show 
the condition and progress of education in the several States and 
tei'ritories, and of diffusing such information respecting the organi- 
zation and management of schools and school systems and methods 
of teaching, as shall aid the people of the United States in the estab- 
lishment and maintenance of efficient school systems ; and otherwise 
promote the cause of education throughout the country. 

Sec. 2. And be it farther enacted, That tliere shall be appointed by 
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a 
commissioner of education, who shall be entrusted with the manage- 
ment of the department herein established, and who shall receive a 
salary of four thousnd dollars per annum, and who shall have 
authority to appoint one chief clerk of his department, who shall 
receive a salary of two thousand dollars per annum, one clerk who 
kIirII reomve 8- salaiy of eighteen hundred dollai'H per annum, and 



one clerk wlio shall receive a salary of sixteen hundred dollars per 
annum, whicli said clerks shall be subjecito the appointing and re- 
moving power of the commissioner of education. 

Sec, 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the 
commissioner of education to present annually to Congress a report 
embodying the results of his investigations and labors, together with 
a statement of such facts and recommendations as will, in his judg- 
ment, subserve the purpose for which this department is established. 
In the first report made by the commissioner of education under 
this act, there shall be presented a statement of the several grants 
of land made by Congress to promote education, and the manner in 
which the several trusts have been managed ; the amount of funds 
arising therefrom, and the annual proceeds of the same, as far as 
the same can be determined. 

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner of public 
buildings is hereby authorized and directed to furnish proper offices 
for the use of the department herein established. 

CIECULAR LETTER BY COMJIISSIONEE OE EDUCATION. 

The undersigned desires to obtain, as early as practicable, accu- 
rate but condensed information of the designation, history, and 
present condition of every institution and agency of education hi 
the United States, and of the name, residence, and special work of 
every person in the administration, instruction and management 
of the same. Any response to this circular in reference to any 
institution, agency, or subject included in the follovdog schedule, 
addressed to the Department of Education, Washington, D. C, and 
endorsed " Oj^cia/," is entitled, by direction of the Postmaster G-en- 
eral, to be conveyed by mail free of postage, and will be thankfully 
received by 

(Signed) HENRY BARNARD, 

Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C. 

SCHEDULE OP INFORMATION SOUGHT RESPECTING SYSTEMS, INSTITUTIONS AND 
AGENCIES OE EDUCATKJN. 

A — General condition (of district, village, city, county, and State.) 
Territorial extent, municipal organization, population, valuation, re- 
ceipts and expenditures for all public purposes. 

B — System of public instruction! 



G9 

C — Incorporated institutions, and other schools and a^encii'S of 
edacation. 

1. — Elementary or Primary Education. 

(Public, private and denominational, and for boy^and girls,) 

//. — Academic or Secondary Education, 

•; Institutions mainly devoted to studies not taught in the clemoa- 
tary schools, and to preparation for college or special schools.) 

///. — Collegiate or Superior Education. 

(Institutions entitled by law to grant the degree of bachelor of 
arts or science.) 

TV. — Professional, Special, or Class Education. 

(Institutions having special studies and training, such as — 1, 
theology ; 2, law ; 3, medicine ; 4, teaching ; 5, agriculture ; 6, 
architecture (design and construction) ; t, technology — polytech- 
nic ; 8, engineering (civil or mechanical) ; 9, war (on land or sea) ; 
10, business or trade ; 11, navigation ; 12, mining and metallurgy ; 
13, drawing and painting; 14, music; 15, deaf-mutes ; 16, blind; 
17, idiotic ; 18, juvenile offenders ; 19, orphans ; 20, girls ; ::1, colored 
or freedmen ; 22, manual or industrial ; 23, not specijied ahove — 
such as chemistry and its applications, modern languages, natural 
history and geology, steam and its applications, pharmacy, veterinary 
surgery, etc.) 

v.- — Supplementary Educaiion. 

(1, Sunday and mission schools ; 2, apprentice schools ; 3, evening 
schools ; 4, courses of lectures ; 5, lyceums for debates ; 6, reading- 
rooms — periodicals ; 7, libraries of reference or circulation ; 8, gym- 
nasiums, boat and ball clubs, and other athletic exercises ; 9, public 
gardens, parks and concerts ; 10, not specijied above.) 

VI. — Societies, Institutes, Museums, Cabinets and Galleries for the 
Advancement of Education, Science, Literature and the Arts. 
VII. — Educational and other Periodicals. 
VIIL — School Funds and. Educational Benefactions-. 



70 

IX. — Legislation f State or Municipal) respecting Education. 
X. — School Architecture. 
XL — Penal and Charitable Listitutions. 
XIL — Churches, and other Agencies of Religious Instruction. 
XIII. — Reports and other Publications on Schools and Education. 
XIV. — Memoirs of Teachers and Promoters of Education. 
XV. — Examinations (competitive or otherwise) for Admission to 
National or State Schools, or to Public Service of any kind. 

THOMAS W. CONWAY, 
Superintendent of Public Education, 
State of Louisiana. 
E. S, Stoddard, Secretary, 



/^ 



StJPrLEMENT TO COMPILATION. 



Act of State Board of Education, adopted September 15, 18G9, amendatory to 
section twenty-two of act No. 121, of March 10, 18G9, (section 22 of the Com- 
pilation). Proviso to be added to said section. 

Provided, That all persons appointed pursuant to the provisions of 
this section, and of section ten of this act, shall be subject to remo- 
val by the State Board of Education for neglect of duty, or other 
cause by them deemed sufficient. 

Act of State Board of Education, adopted September 15, 1869, amendatory to sec- 
tion fifty-eight of act No. 121, of March 10, 1869, (section fifty-eight of the 
Compilation). To be substitiited for said section. 

It shall be the duty of the State tax collector of each parish to 
make quarterly returns to the State Superintendent of Public Edu- 
cation of the amount of said tax collected by him, and to pay over 
the same to the State Treasurer; and the State Superintendent of 
Public Education shall, on the first Monday of September in each 
year, or as soon thereafter as practicable, apportion the same among 
the several school districts of the State, according to the number of 
children in said districts between the ages of six and twenty-one 
years, and shall notify each District Board of the amount appor- 
tioned to their district; and said amounts so apportioned shall be 
paid by the State Treasurer to the treasurer of each parish on the 
warrant of the State Board of Education, countersigned by its sec- 
retary. Until the apportionment above provided for shall be made 
for the school term of 1869-1870, the State Treasurer shall pay to 
the treasurer of each parish, upon the customary warrant, such 
atnount in advance of its apportionment as the State Board of Edu- 
cation shall determine. The District Boards of School Directors 
shall apportion said sums to the several sub-districts in the same 
manner as above provided, and the parish treasurers shall, from said 
apportionment, pay all claims for educational purposes accruing 
under the provisions of the act to which this is amendatory, in any 
school district, not to exceed the amount to the credit of said district, 
on the w^arrant of the Board of Directors thereof, signed by the 
President of the Board, and countersigned by the secretary; and in 
10 



74 

Sab-districts on the warrant of the director thereof, approved by the 
President of the Board of School Directors, countersigned by the 
secretary. The various parish treasurers throughout the State, es- 
chisive of the corporate limits of the city of New Orleans, are hereby 
appointed custodians of all funds derived from any source for edu- 
cational purposes, and shall perform the duties assigned by this act 
to treasurers of district boards. 

Act of State Board of Education, adopted September 15, 1869, amendatory to 
section eighty-eight of act No. 121, of March 10, 1869, (section eighty-eight 
of the Compilation). To be added to said section. 

The salaries of division superintendents shall be payable monthly, 
and of the members of the State Board of Education quarterly, out 
of the public school fund, upon the warrant of the State Board of 
Education, countersigned by its secretary. 



Office State Board of Education, ) 
New Orleans, La., September 15, 1869. j 

The foregoing amendments to the " Act to regulate public educa- 
tion in the State of Louisiana, aud to raise revenue for the support 
of the same," No. 121, of March 10, 1869, were this day adopted by 
the State Board of Education by the following vote : 

Yeas— Messrs. O. A. Guidry, Jules A. Mathieu, V. E. McCarthy, 
E. W. Pierce, John Turner and J. R. West— 6. 

Nays — None. 

J. R. WEST, 
President pro tern, of the Board. 

E. S. Stoddaed, 

Secretary of the Board. 



Office Superintendent of Public Education, [ 
New Orleans, La., September 16, 1869. j 

The foregoing amendments to the law contained in this supple- 
ment were made by the State Board of Education, by virtue of au- 
thority granted said Board by section sixty-seven of act. No. 121, of 
March 10, 1869, (see section sixty-seven of the Compilation), said 
amendments having been foimd necessary for the practical and effi- 
cient working of the school law. 

THOMAS W. CONWAY, 
Superintendent of Public Education, State of Louisiana. 
E. S. Stoddard, Secretary. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS 



FOK THE 



GOVERNMENT OF SCHOOLS 



AND 



Jiit0rjtrinat^ §0itrb$ of §1:^001 pixtttBXB, 



BY THE 



STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, 



STATE OF LOUISIANA. 



SEE SUPPLEMENT TO COMPILATION, PAGE 73. 



JTEJF OJIIjEANS: 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE D.\ILY REPUBLICAN, 57 ST. CHARLES STREET. 

1869, 



MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 

FOB THE 

State of X^oxTisiana? 



THOMAS W. CONWAY, President, 

W. JASPER BLACKBUKN, 

O. A GUIDEY, 

JULES A. MATHIEU, 

V. E. McCAETHY, 

E. W. PIERCE, 

JOHN TURNER, 

J. E. WEST, 

E. S. STODDARD, Seoretaey. 



Office — No. 164 Julia Steeet, New Orleans. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS. 



CHAPTEE I.— GRADES— BRANCHES OF STUDY. 

Rule 1.— The different grades of schools in the State of Louisiana 
shall be designated as Primary, Grammar, High, and Normal 
Schools. 

Rule 2.— In the Primary Schools there shall be taught the rudi- 
ments of reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. In the Grammar 
Schools there shall be taught reading, writing, arithmetic, English 
grammar, geography and history of the United States ; and, where 
practicable, vocal music and drawing. 

Rule 3. — The Primary and Grammar Schools shall contain four 
grades of departments, known as First and Second Primary, and 
First and Second Grammar departments ; but in sparsely settled 
districts of country, the Primary and Grammar -Schools may be united 
at the discretion of the local boards. 

Rule 4. — The High Schools shall be for the education of all chil- 
dren who are competent to pursue the brandies taught therein. 



CHAPTER II.— TERMS AND SCHOOL SESSIONS. 

Rule 5. — The scholastic year shall commence on the first Monday 
in September; and in every school district there shall be kept, for 
at least twenty-four weeks in each year, at such times as the local 
board may deem most convenient, a sufiicient number of schools 
for the instruction of all the children who may legally attend public 
schools therein. 

Rule 6. — There shall be daily sessions in all tlie schools, Saturdays 
and Sundays excepted. These sessions shall be regulated as to their 
duration and intermissions by the District Boards, but shall be at 
least of five hours each day, and not exceed six hours. 



80 



GHAPTEK III.— EXAMINATIONS. 

BuLE 7. — A public examination of all the schools shall take place 
at least once in each year ; besides which all the classes in the High 
and Normal Schools shall be examined, in writing, in each branch of 
stndy when it is completed. 



CHAPTER IV.— VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS. 

Rule 8. — The schools - shall be closed from the twenty-fifth of 
December to the first of January, inclusive ; on all Thanksgiving 
or fast days authorized by the State or General Grovernment, and 
on all Saturdays throughout the year, and on such other days as 
may be directed by the District Boards. 



CHAPTER v.— TEACHERS. 

Rule 9. — The teachers employed for the scholastic year shall hold 
their office for the full term, unless sooner discharged by the District 
Board. 

Rule 10. — They are recjuired to be at their respective rooms at 
least ten minutes before the time for opening each session, and shall, 
in a daily register to be kept by the principal, record their names and 
hour and minute of their arrival, and any teacher failing to comply 
with this rule shall be reported by the principal as tardy. 

Rule 1] . — They shall open school punctually at the appointed time, 
devote themselves during school hours exclusively to the instruction 
of their pupils, maintain good order and strictly adhere to the course 
of study and the use of the text books prescribed by the District 
Board. 

Rule 12. — It shall be their duty to practice such discipline in their 
school as would be exercised by a kind and judicious parent in his 
family, always firm and vigilant, but prudent. They shall endeavor, 
on all proper occasions, to impress upon the minds of their pupils the 
principles of morality and virtue, a sacred regard for truth, love to 
God, love to man, sobriety, industry and frugality. But no teacher 
shall exercise any sectarian influence in the schools. 



81 

ituLE. 13.— •'They sliall seo that the pupils under theii' charge dis- 
tinctly understand and faithfully observe all the rules relating to 
pupils. 

KuLE 14. — They shall attend carefully to the ventilation and tem- 
perature of their school rooms. 

Rule 15. — Any teacher who may be absent from school on account 
of sickness, or other necessity, must cause immediate notice of such 
absence to be given to the Directors. 

Rule 16.—- No teacher shall resign without giving two weeks writ- 
ten notice to the President of the board or sub-director, in default 
of which, all compensation due for one-half month may be forfeited. 

Rule 17. — The salary of teachers shall be deducted pro rata for 
absence, except in cases of sickness of teachers, when half pay shall 
be allowed ; provided, however, that no deduction shall be made for 
two days absence during the half quarter, caused by sickness of the 
teacher or death in the family. 

Rule 18. — No teacher shall be employed in the public schools who 
does not hold a certificate of qualification from the Division Super- 
in^tendent. 

Rule 19. — Teachers shall not hold any position of higher grade 
than the one corresponding to their certificates from the Division 
Superintendent. 

Rule 20.-- -Supernumeraries shall be paid full pay for their time 
of service. Any teacher who expects to be absent from his or her 
post must send notice to the principal before the opening ^f the 
school, that a supernumerary may be sent for, and the place sup- 
plied for the day. 

Teachers who may be absent from their places without satisfac- 
tory cause for three successive days, shall be considered as having 
resigned. 



CHAPTER YI .^-PRINCIPAL TEACHERS. 

Rule 21. — The principal teachers shall keep a register, in which 
they shall record the name, age, birth-place, residence and date of 
11 



82 

admission of each pupil for the first time entered in the public 
schools, and also the name and occupation of the parent or guardian. 

KuLE 22. — They shall also make a daily record of the pupils ad- 
mitted, present, absent or tardy, and at the close of each term 
they shall file the same in the office of the Secretary of the District 
Board, and at the close of the school year shall forward two certi- 
fied copies of said reports to the Division Superintendent, one of 
which shall be forwarded to the State Board. 

Rule 23. — The principal shall have a general supervision of the 
grounds, buildings, and appurtenances of the school, and shall be 
held responsible for any want of neatness or cleanliness on the 
premises ; whenever any repairs are needed, he shall give notice 
thereof to the President of the District Board. 

Rule 24. — Each principal shall examine the classes of the assist- 
ants as often as practicable, Tfithout neglecting the pupils under his 
immediate charge. " 



CHAPTER VII.— CONCERNING DISCIPLINE. 

t 
Rule 25. — All teachers are required to maintain strict order and 

discipline in their schools and class rooms, at all times. Any neg- 
lect of this requirement will be considered good cause for dismissal. 
In maintaining order teachers are hereby authorized to employ any 
proper means which may be necessary to secure a compliance with 
their commands to the pupils, and in the use of which they will re- 
ceive the full countenance and support of the District Board. 

Rule 26.— All teachers will be held to a strict accountability as to 
the manner in which they shall use the authority herein delegated, 
and upon complaint of severity of punishment, each case shall be 
adjudged upon its own merits, the teacher being subject to instant 
dismissal if the board decide it to be demanded by the circum- 
stances. 

Rule 27. — Those teachers who are most successful in maintaining 
the order and discipline of their pupils without the use of corporal 
punishmeiit, other qualifications being sufficient, shall be awarded 



83 

by the Board a higher degree of appreciation, and receive ihe prefer- 
ence over all others in promotions and appointments. 

Rule 28.— -Principals shall be permitted, without interfer nco on 
the part of any member of the board or the Superintendent, to 
arrange the details for the internal government of their schools ac- 
cording to their own method, provided such method is not inconsist- 
ent with the general regulations of the schools ; such principals, of 
course, being liable to be judged of as to their qualifications by the 
results they may produce. 

Rule 29. — The principals shall be required, within one week after 
the commencement of each term, to have the programme of their 
daily exercises posted in the school room in a conspicuous place, 
and shall transmit a copy of the same to the President of the 
District -Board, and one to the Division Superintendent. 



CHAPTER VIII.— PUPILS— ADMISSION, ATTENDANCE AND 

ABSENCE. 

liULE 30. — Every youth, on making application fur admittance to 
the public schools, f-hall be required to furnish a printed certificate, 
Bigned by the President of the District Board of the district or sub- 
district in which such youth resides, setting forth that the holder is 
within the legal age, designating the school at which he shall attend, 
and in case any youth should desire to attend school in another 
parish or district, such applicant shall be required to present a cer- 
tificate from the directors of the district in which he resides. 

Rule 31. — Children applying for admission into the public 
schools are required to furnish all the necessary text books pre- 
scribed by the State Board, and stationery used in their classes, in 
default of which the}' shall not be received. 

Rule 32. — No one havmg been a pupil in one school shall be ad- 
mitted into another during the same scholastic year, without pre- 
senting to the jDrincipal a certificate of honorable discharge from the 
'former scliool, or a permit from the President of the District Board. 

Rule 33. — No pupil shall be allowed to depart from school before 



84 

the usual time unless sick, or on account of some other pressing 
emergency, of which the teacher shall be the judge. 

Rule 34. — Sickness of the pupil, or in the family, or some urgent 
necessity, shall be regarded as the only legitimate excuse for absence. 

KuLE 35. — Pupils who have been absent, or who from any cause 
have failed to prepare their lessons satisfactorily may be required to 
recite them after school. 

Rule 36. — No pupil shall be allowed to be absent from school dur- 
ing the regular sessions to take music, drawing, dancing, or other 
lessons. 



CHAPTER IX— DEPORTMENT OF PUPILS. 

Rule 37. — The pupils must, on all occasions, be obedient to their 
teachers and polite in their intercourse with each other. They must 
be diligent in study, prompt in recitation, and observe propriety of 
deportment duiing the recesses, and in coming to and going from 
school. 

Rule 38. — Cleanliness in person and clothing is required of every 
pupil, and repeated neglect or refusal to comply with this rule shall 
be sufficient cause of suspension from school. 

Rule 39. — Any pupil who shall destroy or injure any property of 
the public schools shall be required to pay the amount lost thereby 
and on failure to do so may be suspended from school. 

Rule 40. — Any pupil guilty of disobedience to a teacher, or of 
gross misconduct, may be suspended by the principal, written notice 
of which, stating the cause, shall be immediately given to the parent 
or guardian, and to the District Board. 

Rule 41. — Any pupil suspended from school by virtue of any of 
the above rules, can be restored only on such conditions as the 
Board of Directors shall determine. 



CHAPTER X.— SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP. ' 

Rule 42.— When a teacher has satisfactory evidence that a pupil 



85 

has left school without tlie inteutiou of returning, such pupil's name 
shall forthwith be stricken from the roll ; but any absences recorded 
against the name of the pupil before the teacher receives this notice, 
shall be allowed to remain, and in making up the attendance aver- 
ages, such absences shall be regarded the same as any other ab- 
sences. 

Note — It is the custom with most teachers to make up the per cent, of attend- 
ance every day. In cases (if there are any) where the record of attendance is 
not entered till the end of the week, or month, or quarter, it is to be distinctly 
borne in mind that when one or more absences have been recorded against a 
pupil before he gives notice of his withdrawal, it is then too late to go back and 
cancel such absences. The rule requires all absences that occur before the pupil 
is marked as discharged to remain on the records. 

Rule 43. — When a pupil is suspended from school by any of the 
rules of the School Board, whether for absence or for any other cause, 
his name shall be stricken from the roll. 

Rule 41. — When a pupil is absent from school more than five con- 
secutive school days, for sickness or for any other cause, except in 
case of suspension, his name shall be stricken from the roll at the 
end of the five days, and the absences shall in all cases be recorded 
while the name remains on the roll. 

Note — The design of this rule is simply to fix a limit beyond which the 
absences of a pupil shall cease to be recorded. It is not intended to put the 
pupil or his parents to any extra trouble, nor to exclude the pupil from school 
for a single half-day. Unless suspended by some other riile, he can be received 
back to the school whenever he returns, just as if no such rule as this existed. 
By di-opping the name from the roll at the end of five days the absences cease 
to" be recorded till the piipil re-enters. 



CHAPTER XL— SCHOOL DIRECTORS. 

Rule 45. — If for any cause it is found necessary to dismiss a 
teacher before the expiration of the term for which such teacher was 
employed, the District Board of School Directors shall give the said 
teacher a written discharge signed by the President thereof, and 
countersigned by the Secretary, which discharge shall state fully the 
cause of said dismissal. 

Rule 46. — The president of each board of district du-ectors and 
the directors of each sub-district, shall be required to furnish each 
youth in their respective districts and sub-districts, entitled to ad- 



86 . . 

mission to the public scliools of the State, with a printed certifi- 
cate designating the proper school at which the holder is entitled to 
attend, and no pupil shall be entitled to admission to any other 
school than the one to which they are assigned by said certificate, 
and no certificate shall be granted to any youth unless within the 
ages prescribed by law. 

EuLE 47. — The secretaries of the district boards of school di- 
rectors will, in addition to the regular reports required of them by 
law, to their respective Division Superintendents, make, in connec- 
tion therewith, full and complete reports of all school lands in their 
districts, the amount and condition of the same, and any 
changes that may occur therein by sale, rent, or otherwise, and shall 
make it their especial care to see that such lands are not trespassed 
upon, or in any way laid to waste, and will make such other reports as 
the said Division Superintendents may at any time direct. 

Rule 48. — If, in any ward of any parish, an organization cannot 
be effected for school purposes, through lack of suitable persons to 
be appointed as school directors or otherwise, such ward shall be 
merged into the ward next most contiguous, forming one schooj 
district therewith; the superintendent of the division designating 
with what contiguous ward it shall be merged, and the Board of 
School Directors of the ward to which such unorganized district is 
joined, shall assume charge of the same, until such time as said 
ward can be satisfactorily organized. 

Kule49. — The District Boards of School Directors shall adopt the 
text books recommended by the State School Board. 



Office State Board of Education, ] 

New Orleans, Louisiana, September 14, 1869. 3 

The foregoing Eules and Regulations were this day adopted by 
the State Board of Education by the following vote : 

Ayes — Messrs. Jules A. Mathieu, V. E. McCarthy, E. W. Pierce, 
John Turner and J. K. "West — 5. 

Nays — None. 

J. R. WEST, 

President pro tern, of the Board. 
E. S. Stoddard, 

Secretary of the Board. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 312 070 9 



